Introduction: DIY - Remote Control Snake

By GOODTECH Creativity And Science
About: Hello Guys, I am techgenie, an Electronics hobbyists, tech tinker and developer. I dedicate my free time in designing and making various creative and innovative projects, RC toys, Incredible Gadgets, Awesome L…

This Instructable is about a wireless DIY Remote Control Snake that i made at home using cardboard. The remote control toy is loved by people of all age groups and there is no better fun than making one on your own.

In this instructable, i decided to make a simple remote control toy that can be easily made by anyone using few recycled items. Although, you may still need to get some motors and electronic components.

Let's begin...

Step 1: Order Parts

Ebay.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.in

From Home and Local Shop: Cardboard, pearl beads, superglue, Wooden stick and connecting wires. You also need a wireless receiver and transmitter from an old RC toy.

Note: You can also make a receiver and transmitter at home by following the tutorial here but it is advisable to extract the circuit from a cheap RC toy available at local toy shops.

Step 2: Watch the Video

A video is a wonderful tool that provides deep insight to the procedure and makes it easy to follow. However, it is also recommended to visit next steps for additional details and images.

Step 3: Design the Snake Body

The Snake has a very uniform body that contains a head and a tail. You can make any design or follow my design.

  • Download the design template here and print it on an A4 size paper.
  • Cut the paper and draw the parts on the cardboard.
  • Cut the cardboard to get various body parts.
  • I used six body pieces but if need a longer snake, you can increase the no. of pieces.
  • Cut the slots in all the body parts as shown in the image above.
  • These slots will be used to fix the wheels.
  • Using mini USB drill, make holes on both the sides of the body pieces.
  • You also need to make a hole at the neck and the tail.

Note: You can use any drill or make a mini USB drill at home. Watch the video below or have a look at the instructable here.

Step 4: Prepare the Parts

  • Take an office paper clip and two pearl beads.
  • Using pliers, straighten out the metal clip.
  • Refer to the image and bend the metal clips such that the beads act as moving wheels.
  • You can also use hard metal wire instead of paper clips.
  • Insert the wheels in the slots on the body parts.
  • Secure the wheels with hot glue as shown in the image above.
  • Repeat the above steps for all the body pieces.
  • Take thin wooden sticks or hard metal wire and cut them into small pieces.
  • Insert the small pieces of wooden at one of the holes in each body part except the tail.
  • Connect all the body pieces together by interlocking them through the small wooden sticks.
  • Make sure that all the pieces are free to move.
  • The snake body is now ready.
Note: Reading steps can be a bit confusing at times. Have a look at the video here,in order to avoid any doubts.

Step 5: Let's Add Motors

  • Cut a cardboard piece of about 11cm x 1cm.
  • Make an equilateral triangle with the cardboard piece.
  • Refer to the image above and paste the cardboard at the center of the upper half of the snake head.
  • Place the motor on each of the slopes and mark the points where the motor shaft makes contact with the snake head.
  • Using mini drill, make holes at the marked points.
  • Using Hot glue, paste the paste the motors on the slopes as shown in the image above.
  • Make sure that tip of the motor shaft makes contact with the ground.
  • Apply a tiny drop of hot glue over the motor shaft to provide a rubber grip for friction with ground surface.

Step 6: Attach Electronics to Snake

  • Extract a wireless receiver circuit from an old RC toy. Note: you can also make a wireless circuit at home using a tutorial here but it is advisable to extract the circuit from cheap RC toy available at local shops.
  • Apply some hot glue and paste the circuit over the snake body.
  • Take a good capacity light weight battery and a TP4056 charging module.
  • Connect the battery terminals to the input pins of charging module.
  • Also, connect a switch to the output terminal of charging module.
  • Using double sided tape, attach the battery over the snake's tail.
  • Refer to the circuit diagram above and connect all the components.
  • Cut few cardboard pieces and using it secure the wires over to the snake body.
Note: In case you don't have a wireless circuit at home, i also made a wired remote control snake, which is also similar to it but is controlled by a wired controller. You can have a look at the instructable here or watch the video below.

Step 7: Testing and Fun

  • Our Remote Control Snake is now ready.
  • You need to connect a 5v mobile charger to the charging module and charge the battery completely.
  • When the battery is fully charged, disconnect the charger and place the snake over the level ground.
  • Take the transmitter remote control and have fun with this amazing RC toy.

If you like this homemade DIY Remote control Snake, kindly support me by subscribing to my youtube channel here.

I also made a similar project, a wireless remote controlled scorpion by recycling an old PC mouse. You can have a detailed look at the instructable here or watch the video below.

So Friends, this here concludes the instructable, stay tuned and SUBSCRIBE to receive regular updates. You can also contact me through social media; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for your Support..!!

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