Artificial Nature Upcycle Project Progress Update

With the Artificial Nature aesthetic guiding my upcycle project, I’ve made solid progress in gathering materials and refining my fabrication plan. My goal remains to create a scorpion sculpture using dismantled circuit components, blending organic form with technological remnants to emphasize the idea of a synthetic ecosystem evolving from discarded electronics. While I haven’t started construction yet, I’ve carefully selected the elements I’ll be using and mapped out a fabrication schedule to bring the project to life.

Materials Collected
I’ve sourced all of my materials from dismantled circuits and electronic components salvaged from previous coursework, including Electronics Design Lab (EDL), Mechatronics I & II, Circuit Design, and Senior Design. These classes left me with an assortment of fried PCBs, broken integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors, and other miscellaneous electronic scraps. The variety of shapes, sizes, and textures in these components makes them ideal for assembling an intricate, mechanical-looking scorpion that fits within the Artificial Nature aesthetic.

I’ve also set aside larger PCB boards and integrated circuit chips to serve as the main structure of the scorpion’s body. For the legs and finer details, I’ll be using thin wires, resistors, and small capacitors to mimic the segmented, spindly nature of real scorpion limbs. The combination of these elements should create a creature that feels both organic and mechanical, fitting the theme of a world where technology has evolved into something almost alive.

Fabrication Plan & Schedule
I’ve broken my fabrication process into two main phases to ensure a structured and detailed assembly:

This Weekend: Assembling the Main Body
I’ll start by constructing the core structure of the scorpion, focusing on the body and tail. This will primarily involve supergluing larger components like PCB fragments and IC chips together to form a stable base. The goal is to establish the overall form so that finer details can be added later without compromising the stability of the piece.

Next Weekend: Refining Details and Soldering Components
Once the main body is complete, I’ll move on to the smaller details. This includes attaching legs, pincers, and the stinger, which will require more precision. I plan to use a combination of soldering and supergluing to secure the delicate elements while maintaining a natural flow in the design. This phase will also be when I determine any final aesthetic touches, such as the possibility of adding UV-reactive elements or metallic highlights to enhance the “cybernetic evolution” effect.

Next Steps
Now that I have all the materials and a clear fabrication schedule, the next step is executing the build. While I haven’t started assembling yet, I feel confident in the pieces I’ve chosen and the aesthetic direction I’m pursuing. By next week, I should have a strong foundational structure, allowing me to refine the design and ensure the final result captures the eerie fusion of biology and technology that defines the Artificial Nature aesthetic.