g’day! this toot is about oribokit, it is my first origami and robotics kit, directly derived from my artistic practice of exploration the relationships between origami nature and technology.
you can learn more here https://matthewgardiner.com/oribokit <https://matthewgardiner.com/oribokit> oribokit is my response to lockdown, cancelations and extended postponement of every active project and the sudden realisation that low-volume automated electronics assembly is a really cool thing. The kit recreates a 2005 oribot (see https://matthewgardiner.net/art/Oribotics_Laboratory <https://matthewgardiner.net/art/Oribotics_Laboratory>) using kraft paper and machine made washi, the kind usually used for shoji screens. The kraft paper folds up into the mechanism, which moves the washi petal. The paper sheets are all laser cut and perforated, making folding the project accurate and a lot of fun. Everything is hand fabricated in my studio, there are countless steps to design, test and fabricate each and every part. I use all methods at my disposal, everything from laser cutting, heat-shrinking, soldering, 3D printing, hand turning on my beautiful 1960’s german watchmakers lathe, hand casting and a bit of hand finishing is involved. All you have to do is fold and assemble the parts. The controller comes ready to go programmed with a light sensitive sensor, so your oribotic blossoms become phototropic, reacting to light levels that you can set easily. I am offering _free_ workshops to build the kit over several dates September. If this sounds interesting to you, and you are outside Australia (and your country still accepts parcels from Australia) then we need to get your kit in the post soon! happy folding, Matthew ps. I’ve tried to keep the kit cost as low as possible, but I understand that it has been a hard year for everyone, if you are really keen but simply cannot manage, please contact me off-list or message me via my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oribotic <https://www.facebook.com/oribotic> and perhaps we can still find a way for you to join in the workshop.
