The TapeScape Audio Robot

Step 9 Making it Autonomous

The eventual plan for the TapeScape Robot is to make it remote-controlled. We knew servos would be needed, but mashing down those heavy buttons was a real head scratcher, so we actually found the mechanism that switched the directions of the tape. It's a tricky little sucker, just a gear that meshes with one spindle or the other by way of a toggle. Melt a hole through the plastic tab with a hot safety pin, then tie some strong twine to the servo and presto! You've got control over direction.

The next step is to make it wireless using XBee, and make the controller out of tape player controls (perhaps a walkman would be most aesthetically pleasing.)