The Star-Sucker

Once we were clear on the most appropriate tentacle prototype, hinge mechanism, and assembly method for Sahara’s “Star-sucker,” it was time to move into the final build.

I began with the tentacles. Using foam board and wide wooden craft sticks, I built a sturdy base structure for each one. I then used red felt as an overlay to create the outer shell of the tentacles, giving them a softer and more finished appearance. To add detail and craftsmanship, I hand-stitched the edges, which helped elevate the overall look of the model. Once the tentacles were complete, I added sensors and four rubber suckers to each side, staying true to the details in Sahara’s original drawing.

After completing the tentacles, I moved on to the center unit. I attached hinges to two out of the five tentacles, connecting them to the central body. These two movable tentacles allow the Star-sucker to swim around and navigate toward areas with underwater oil spills, just as Sahara had specified in her concept. On the faces of the center piece, I also added a solar panel unit and a garbage collection opening, both of which were important features in Sahara’s design.

Once everything was assembled, we had a complete model of Sahara’s brilliant innovation. The final build brought her idea to life in a tangible way, transforming her imaginative drawing into a physical prototype. All that was left was to present the finished Star-sucker to Sahara, the inventor of it all,  and her classmates!

A key Part of Star-sucker is its tentacle. They are what allow it to swim, detect oil spills and clean up the ocean. Getting this right was imperative. I began by prototyping several variations of what this could look like and getting Feedback on each one. I used materials such as Foamboard, clay, sculpting foam, wood, and felt to make these different variants of the "Tentacle". I also explored a hinge mechanism to meet Sahara's expectations for two mobile tentacles that allow star-sucker to swim and navigate the ocean.

Part of my Prototyping process a few weeks back was making C.A.D (Computer Aided Design) models of individual parts of star-sucker. This helped me visualize how each individual piece could look in 3D and how I could potentially piece everything together. The CAD model of parts made it easier to receive feedback on whether what I visualized was accurate to Sahara's drawing and the specific details of her invention from the get-go.

It's about three weeks till I'd have star-sucker brought to life and I would like to share a bit of what I've been exploring recently. In my meeting with Sahara earlier last month I remember she shared about her desire for The Star-Sucker to not be too big or too small. To get an idea of what size The Star-Sucker could tentatively be, I made a 20cm x20cm clay model that fits perfectly within an A4 sheet of paper. The average star fish is about 20cm - 30cm in diameter. Making this clay model around the average ball park of these sea creatures helps me visualize what executing Saharas intention of Biomimicry could be like!

Hi Sahara,

I wanted to share a quick update on how StarSucker is coming to life!

Over the past while, I’ve been speaking with some technicians and fabricator friends to explore the best ways to build your idea. Everyone was really excited about it, especially the way it helps protect animals in the ocean.

One of the most important things you shared with me was that two of the tentacles should move, so StarSucker can swim and find oil. I’ve been thinking a lot about this and testing different ideas, including using small joints (like hinges) inside the tentacles to help them move.

At the same time, I’ve also been exploring ways to make the movement feel smooth and natural, so it feels more like a real sea creature than a machine.

Right now, I’m working on a version that balances both ideas: something that can move, but is also simple and strong to build.

I’ve also started thinking about how to bring your other ideas to life; like the pods that collect oil, the sensor lines that help find it, and the solar panel at the center.

More updates soon, I can’t wait to show you what it looks like!

I got to meet with Sahara and talk about her amazing Invention - "The  Star-Sucker". She clarified some details about here invention and we discussed about how I intend to bring this awesome invention to life! In the coming weeks, I will be sharing more about how I've been prototyping this great invention!