The Sentient Stanchions are a project Alex Fiel and I collaborated on during Fidget Camp - a week long Creative Technology make-a-thon during Summer 2024. 
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The Stanchions grew out of a brainstorming session where we discovered a mutual love for mischief and the unexpected joy it can bring to those that engage with it. We talked about how people will obey things like traffic cones without thinking, even when placed in a nonsensical location, and wondered how we might apply that to our upcoming exhibition, which would be full of plenty of other light mischief and playful chaos. 
 
We built the Stanchions over the course of 3 days - they are powered by the cheapest RC cars you can get on Amazon and are fitted with PVC pipes and 2.5lb weights epoxied on top for stability. The "metal" poles themselves are made from pool noodles and shiny gold paper attached with spray adhesive, and are topped off with decorative ceramic orbs we spray painted gold. The velvet rope was created from red velour and poly-fil, topped off with 5hr Energy bottles and hooks from our local hardware store.
 
The Sentient Stanchions were incredibly well-received at our exhibition. We had a blast driving them around unsuspecting visitors and surprising people who didn't expect to see them moving.