This instructable shows how I made a set of eyes for an animatronic robot character. They only move from side to side, but have working eyelids. (18+)
I actually modified a manually controlled set of DIY puppet eyes, to use servos. Hence, I originally performed the steps in a drastically different order. In this instructable, I try to present the steps more logically.
The eyes were made with the following:
I actually modified a manually controlled set of DIY puppet eyes, to use servos. Hence, I originally performed the steps in a drastically different order. In this instructable, I try to present the steps more logically.
The eyes were made with the following:
- model plane plywood (3mm)
- 2 mini RC servos,
- 1 standard RC servo (another mini would work)
- scrap styrene,
- epoxy,
- glue,
- paper clip,
- small screws
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Here is an example of how they work. I control them from my laptop with an SSC-32 controller from Lynxmotion, seen to the right of the eyes.
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The entire penguin is another matter. I see that requiring a dedicated microprocessor onboard the puppet to interpret the RF Joystick controller commands and map them to the puppet's actions. Fortunately, these microprocessors are small...
The robotics forum I mention in the instructable has many ideas for this area. There is an entire sub-forum dedicated to remote control that discusses these approaches.
Thanks,
@echo off& if defined debug @echo on
rem Initialize eyes to 'home' position
rem Control script starts after pause
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo Open eyes&@echo #2P600 > COM4:
@echo pause&@pause
@echo Look right&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo delay 1.00secs.& @call delay 1.00
@echo Look left&@echo #0P2000 #1P2000 > COM4:
@echo delay 1.00secs.& @call delay 1.00
@echo Look right&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo delay 1.00secs.& @call delay 1.00
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 1.00secs.& @call delay 1.00
@echo Look right&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.02secs.& @call delay 0.02
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.10secs.& @call delay 0.10
@echo Look right&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.02secs.& @call delay 0.02
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.10secs.& @call delay 0.10
@echo Look left slowly&@echo #0P2000 #1P2000 T1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 2.00secs.& @call delay 2.00
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 2.00secs.& @call delay 2.00
@echo Blink eyes&@echo #2P1050 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.01secs.& @call delay 0.01
@echo Open eyes&@echo #2P600 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.20secs.& @call delay 0.20
@echo Blink eyes&@echo #2P1050 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.01secs.& @call delay 0.01
@echo Open eyes&@echo #2P600 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.20secs.& @call delay 0.20
@echo Look right&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.50secs.& @call delay 0.50
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.02secs.& @call delay 0.02
@echo Squint eyes slowly&@echo #2P1050 T2000 > COM4:
@echo delay 2.00secs.& @call delay 2.00
@echo Look right slowly&@echo #0P1100 #1P1100 T1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 2.00secs.& @call delay 2.00
@echo Look left slowly&@echo #0P2000 #1P2000 T1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 2.00secs.& @call delay 2.00
@echo Look ahead&@echo #0P1500 #1P1500 > COM4:
@echo delay 1.00secs.& @call delay 1.00
@echo Open eyes&@echo #2P600 > COM4:
@echo delay 0.03secs.& @call delay 0.03
@echo Cross-eyed&@echo #0P2000 #1P1100 > COM4:
@echo pause&@pause
:-)
Thank you, dj
I was looking into doing something similar but preferably something that would be as cheap as possible, installable outside, and possibly using a motion sensor.
I feel the only real way to do this is to manufacture a specific board for this project and not use that type of controller.
Any thoughts on driving costs down?
And awesome work.
If used as part of a puppet, it can also be controlled by dedicated circuitry that drives the servos directly from a slide pot or two or three mounted in the head. The original eyes were controlled in a puppet's head via a mechanical slider...
We are working on controlling the eyes, indeed the entire penguin, via an iPhone app. Tilting and turning the handheld iPhone would do the same for the eyes, or head or body...
Love the instructables lots of detail :)
There currently is a project in development to use an iPhone as a controller for "Peter Penguin".
were are you going to put it?
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/penguins_of_madagascar.jpg
That one on the left.
I know Rico; he was part of the inspiration for the project