Design of a Smart Puppet Theatre System for Computational Thinking Education

Many efforts have failed to achieve tangible models of a robotic theatre, as opposed to virtual or simulated theatres, despite many attempts to merge the progress of robotics with the growth of theatre and the performing arts. Many of the initiatives that have achieved significant progress in these domains are on a considerably larger scale, with the primary goal of entertaining rather than demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of Robotics and Engineering. The purpose of this paper is to correctly unite the principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in a small size robotic theatre that will allow for a more portable and changeable exhibition. The Tortoise and Hare play will be performed in the theatre, which is made up of both stage and puppet elements. A pan and tilt lighting system, audio integration via an external device, automated curtains with stepper motors, props, and a grid stage are among the stage’s components. A camera tracking module in the light system detects the location of a robot and communicates with the light fixtures to angle the spotlight. A transportable module that interacts wirelessly with its environment, as well as simple-moving, decorative puppet cutouts protruding from the module, make up the smart puppets. The mBlock IDE is used to edit the story in the theatre software, providing for a simple technique of programming the scene. The Smart Mini Theatre’s production of the Tortoise and Hare play intends to encourage performing arts students to experiment with robots and programming to create their own shows, in the hopes of inspiring them to pursue Robotics and Engineering as a potential career choice.