Mini Zoetrop

Zoetrope is an animation device that produces the illusion of motion by illuminating successive frames spinning in a circle for a fraction of a second and repeating this in an endless loop. Invented in the 19th century, we will recreate it from parts available in the 21st century.
It is a two-part workshop: First, we make animation frames and then assemble the drive electronics. The device will be built from a discarded CD or DVD player mechanism, an Arduino microcontroller, a high lumen white LED and a few auxiliary elements. Among other things, we will learn about the brushless electric motor and write a programme synchronizing the LED blinking and the motor rotation. The most fun, of course, will be creating and playing with the animations in the loop.

The workshop’s participants will gain new knowledge in optics to build and explore the electronic version of the originally mechanical optical device

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