Ralph Sutter, senior instructor in the Interactive Media and Game Development program, appears in a new video on Adam Savage’s Tested YouTube channel. The video showcases the animatronic Grogu (Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian) that Savage has designed and built with the help of collaborators, who include Sutter and Matthew Winchell ’25, robotics engineering.
For the last year, Savage, the former co-host of MythBusters, has been developing his Grogu replica. Sutter contributed to the project by digitally sculpting the 3D model of Baby Yoda’s head, and Winchell worked on the mechanics and control systems.
(L-R) Sutter, Grogu, Savage. Photo credit: Kristen Lomasney
Sutter participated in filming the new video at Savage’s workshop in San Francisco in September. In the video, Sutter discusses his work on the project. Winchell appeared in two separate Tested videos with Savage: one in July to discuss the status of the project and a second earlier this month to walk viewers through the custom puppet’s controls and movements. Tested is a YouTube channel, led by Savage, that explores the intersection of science, popular culture, and emerging technology.
Sutter, a 3D-character artist and animator, teaches courses at WPI including 3D art and animation. “I love digital sculpting, creating compelling 3D characters, and bringing them to life,” he says. “As a Star Wars fan and a big believer in the power of makers, it has been a dream to work on this project with Adam. He is one of my idols and I have so much respect for his work.”
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