TALOS: Computer Vision-Integrated Robotic Arm for Autonomous Jenga Playing; Normative dissociation as a driving force in technological development 92 views

Much of technology has been developed to improve or mimic human capabilities. Current development efforts in areas such as robotics focus on integrating sensory information with computing power to facilitate mechanical actuation. The human mind does this intuitively, constructing an intrinsic world model that the brain then uses to guide physical behavior. The brain’s processing of sensory information is quite complex and nondeterministic. A variety of psychological phenomena arise from this, which can affect and are affected by the technologies these minds developed. Jenga playing is an example of a task that relies on the ability to combine physical sensation and visual feedback for decision-making. A robot accomplishing such a task to the level of a human must typically be a high precision robotic manipulator with vision, sensors, and actuators to match. We used an educational grade robot along with a system of integrated devices to provide the robot with the ability to play Jenga at a similar caliber. The project provides a demonstration of the capabilities of educational platforms. The phenomenon of normative dissociation often shows up in tandem with the use of technology. Our own design choices and ways of life motivate and perpetuate it. Diverse sources reveal common threads leading to dissociogenic technological development. The history of the of key technologies, psychology, the mindset of designers, and the public perception of technology, as well as human-computer interaction, are examined. Understanding this relationship can inform analysis of future technologies.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Robotics; Computer vision

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technical Advisor: Caroline Crockett, Homa Alemzadeh STS Advisor: Peter Norton Technical Team Members: Allen Chen, Maria Molchanova, Nehemiah Kim, Marvin Rivera

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2025-12-12