Froggy World 1 The Catapult

Froggy World is an amusement park for adventurous frogs. 

This ride is the first in a series.  Each ride receives a signal from the previous ride "You've got the frog;" and each ride signals the next that "Frog has left, you've got the frog." Eventually, the frog will be returned to the catapult (by another ride) and the cycle will repeat.

The concept for winding and releasing the catapult spring comes from Arduino Controlled Catapult by UnusualTravis
http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Controlled-Catapult/


 

Step 1:

There is no real "beginning" or "end" to this amusement park, but I had to start somewhere.  The signal on Arduino pin #13 (brought low) will cause this ride to catapult the frog, return to "ready" position and notify the next ride (by a low signal on pin #11) that the frog is now in their hands.

The code "winds" the spring servo, then moves the "release servo."  The spring servo unwinds (catapult falls back to start position) and the "release servo" moves to the latch position.  Then the "frog has left" signal is activated.

#include <Servo.h>

 

Servo myservo;

Servo release;

int start = 13;

int next = 11;

int val = 0;

 

void setup ()

{myservo.attach(5);

release.attach(6);

pinMode(start, INPUT);

pinMode(next, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(next, HIGH);

myservo.write(150);

release.write(120);

}

 

void loop ()

{val=digitalRead(start);

if(val==LOW)

{myservo.write(5);

delay(1000);

release.write(180);

delay(1000);

myservo.write(150);

delay(2000);

release.write(120);

digitalWrite(next, LOW);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(next, HIGH);

}}

Comments

[UnusualTravis]

Nice work!

[J-Five]

I know what the frog is saying "WEEEEEEEE!!!"

[MikeTheMaker]

In the next few days, the frog will "land" and have a new experience :)

[J-Five]

By the way, how far can go

[MikeTheMaker]

From carpeted floor to carpeted floor--12 to 15 feet. From a table to a tile floor, quite a bit farther.

[J-Five]

That's what I thought any plans to make one human size that might be fun.
I better not give you any ideas.

[MikeTheMaker]

I can think of a few people who need to ride the human size version . . . "The Boot" (where Froggy lands) is now ready
http://www.instructables.com/id/Froggy-World-2-The-Boot/

[J-Five]

I would build it if there were any plans.

[MikeTheMaker]

I don't know about human riders--but a catapult big enough to fling watermelons could be a treat . . . .

[J-Five]

Don't quote me on this if you lengthen the lever and/or make the spring more compressed you might increase the distance.

[J-Five]

TOADLY COOL!!!!

[J-Five]

Cool,

Even though it should have been called frogapult!!

[MikeTheMaker]

I didn't think of that . . . good name!

[J-Five]

Thanks!!!!

[Marko238]

Poor froggy :(, but guess it's the only way to get a plastic frog to jump.

[MikeTheMaker]

The plastic frogs are excited to have their own amusement park--of course the plastic mice are everywhere in other parks . . .

[GorillazMiko]

This is awesome! I'm currently in the process of getting started with C++ and messing around with Arduino, so I'll definitely give this one a shot. Great Instructable!

GM

[MikeTheMaker]

Thank you! I can just barely get around in C . . . if you discover any good books on the subject, let me know.

[SlickSqueegie]

Nice work! This is pretty cool!

[MikeTheMaker]

Thanks! If all goes well, this frog will have a lot of "experiences" before returning to the catapult . . .