A self-initiated studio project. Chestnut Robotics gave us permission to animate their Aero Hand Open from its CAD and share the result here; it was not a commissioned project.
Chestnut Robotics specializes in engineering exceptional robotic hands. When we first approached their Aero Hand Open, our primary goal was to show what differentiates the engineering in this hand from the competition. There are many robotic hands on the market, so we decided to highlight three qualities that set it apart:
1. A hybrid tendon/direct/linkage drive system
2. Seven active degrees-of-freedom
3. Real-time fine-motor precision
Before working in 3D, we start by sketching out a sequence to visualize how we might tell this story:
We start by building anticipation: the disassembled hand comes together piece-by-piece. This enables us to focus on intricate details of the engineering.
Close up shots of the hand's joints demonstrate the mechanics of its hybrid drive system as the hand is assembled.
Once a preliminary plan is sketched out, we move to 3D. To maintain technical accuracy, we begin with Chestnut's raw 3D CAD files so that every detail in the final animation accurately represents the hand's mechanics.
One of the Aero Hand Open's most impressive demos of real-time fine-motor precision is its ability to open an aluminum soda can. This serves as an excellent climactic finale to the video.
Using these components, we build a rough 3D recreation of the sequence we sketched out in storyboards.
Feedback throughout this process enables us to change course and make adjustments as we go to better tell the story.
We add lighting and materials and refine movement until things start to feel more cinematic, responding to feedback along the way.
Upon completion of this project, the final video will be published here.