This paper presents an Arduino-controlled Spirographtm-style drawing machine suitable for use at a Maker event. Visitors can use the machine to make unique artwork to take home. Instructions to build the drawing machine are provided. Potential pedagogical uses of the drawing machine range from learning hands-on construction techniques, to programming, trigonometry, and interaction with a user through sensors.
Clark Hochgraf, Ph.D., teaches engineering, design thinking and making skills to students at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He finds joy in making technology accessible and useful to more people.
As associate professor of electrical engineering technology at RIT, he teaches digital signal processing and microcontrollers using a hands-on, learn by building approach. He works with community organizations such as Rochester Roots and Rochester Makerspace to promote youth well-being and technology education by connecting college students to community members in service learning projects.
Clark is a maker who has built electric go-carts, scooters, bikes, hybrid automobiles and co-launched the first student-designed college campus solar-charged, electric bike share in the US. He holds 12 US patents ranging from Megawatt-scale power inverters to hydrogen fuel cell membranes. Before teaching, he worked 11 years in industry as an engineer for Westinghouse, Ford/Visteon, and General Motors R&D. His current research is on using smartphone technology to prevent automobile crashes.
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