Dr. Mesmer was Peter’s most complex servo-controlled automaton, using two software applications: Visual Show Automation (VSA) by Brookshire Software and TrackSkull by MonkeyBasic. Both relied on a visual approach to animatronics rather than having to input code to program the servo movements and initially required a connection to a portable CD player to play back the program.
Mad Scientist “Dr. Mesmer, MD”
Electronic automaton running program with laptop
In 2023, Dr. Mesmer was upgraded to include a built-in micro USB servo controller, enabling it to operate independently. The mini serial servo controller connects the automaton to a laptop, where Chris uses the servo controller software to program and save the sequence of movements. The six-channel servo controller allows precise programming and recording of movements using Pololu Micro Maestro servo control software. Each servo channel’s animation frames are saved with ease-in and ease-out motion, ensuring smooth and natural movement.
The hollow resin head houses a servo capable of full-range motion, including up-and-down, forward-and-back, and rotational movements. Servos, rods, and springs integrated into the body function as muscles, creating realistic head motions. Both arms are crafted from machined brass armatures with loose hinge joints, allowing for passive, lifelike motion.
The right arm is connected to a rotating hand crank, generating arm movements and spinning the Hypnodisc for a hypnotic effect. Meanwhile, the left arm operates through a lever-driven push-pull mechanism that controls pulsating light effects, adding a dynamic visual element.
MOVEMENT
Mad scientist, Dr. Mesmer, moves his head from side to side as he observes his audience. He looks down on the hypno machine, slowly pushing and pulling the lever, causing the lights on the hypno machine to begin pulsating, while he simultaneously turns the hand crank, causing the hypno disc to spin.
The lever and spinning disc motion speeds up, the pulsating light sequence quickens and the hypno disc spins faster. As Dr. Mesmer looks over the crowd in an attempt to hypnotize his unwitting victims.