Give the gift of Robot Invasion

Step 12 Start the Invasion:

Box these up and give them away. I packaged mine a couple of days before Christmas and they were still blinking when they were unwrapped.

You can play with the resistor value to determine how sensitive the solar panel is. With the 1M resistor it has to be pretty dark before the LED starts blinking. With a 100k resistor it will blink in a lit room but turn off in direct sunlight. It all depends on how sneaky you want your robot to be.

Comments

[Misac-kun]

is posssible to use a LDR instead of a Solar panel? (solar panels are a bit expansive on my country)

also, great idea! i think i will be making something similar for my friends Xmas gift! (i think i will use normal leds cus the hight briliance ones costs 1,50 where i live)

[sponge212]

Solar panel generates electricity to recharge the batteries. An LDR is a light dependent resistor and produces no power.

[MeCareFree]

 Newbie here:  What are the voltage and mah of the solar panel and where can I get one that looks like the one in this instructable?  Thanks for the great project!

[porcupinemamma]

Hi newbie Mecarefree!  welcome aboard the coolest website on the internet, with the kindest and most creative members in cyber space!!

[Jodex]

Try searching online. That might be the best or at least the easiest way.. Maybe

[Ron-Ray]

They have the 'cutest' little faces!  : |

{*idea} .. What if you used a thin hollow tube (empty ballpoint pen refill, etc.)  for the dish pole and ran wires inside...? 
{*idea} .. Could you use the "arms" themselves to conduct the charge voltage [+ | -}  (insulate inside body) and have no wires...? 
{*idea} .. Could you use a tiny micro-switch (through a rivets) to disconnect the system, for storage until next year...?

[pnorcross1]

Why not just get a green blinking LED, pop that on the dish, then a red led, and put that in the head. That way, the eyes glow an evil red when it gets dark, and then the alien/robot starts to "phone home". A nice plus for getting Christmas colors worked in there too!

[evilmadscientistman]

heres an idea...why don't you add the blinking LED inside of the head and just use pop rivets so that it can shine through the holes and it looks all demonic with it's red eyes

[Falcore]

That would be sweet...

[frikkie]

I dont wanna be cruel but.....I like youre instructable.

[mntbkrguy]

This is such an awesome idea! Thank you for sharing your design.

[ChoseTruc]

Bravo! MrMunki. I gave you a Hi-5. LOL
Your Bot's face is so cute, because of the K.i.S.S. approach.
It's look like IronMan. Let's call it = COPPER_FACE. Haha!!
I go along with what cyc4015 wrote "...rivets...like googley-eyes."
I like the inspiration you provided, by sharing your creation.
Proof is=Comments from; influx/Dec 25 2008, and masynmachien/May 13 2008.
Now, if I may,..., I have one suggestion for the welded connections:
:> Heat-Shrink Wraps, instead of Duct-Tape...To avoid shorts.
And those were my 2 cents..
Hoping that you, and the lucky receivers, had a 2006 Christmas to remember.

[jinshengruan]

That is so cute,very cool

[nick9321]

thats really cool, nice job!

[cyc4015]

I love the copper, and the way the rivets look almost like googley-eyes. also, it took me awhile to realize that the solar panel was the sign. this is pretty darn cool.

[Bam2169]

This is great i'm making some for sure

[FullyInvolvedScientist]

This is a great gift idea! I am new to instructables and I know you posted this a long time ago but, it is still really cool now. Great job!