miniSADbot - outdoor edition

This miniSADbot was created for the Kickstarter backers who supported the original SADbot exhibit that Ben Leduc-Mills and I created.  Thank you!  Here you will learn what to do with the kit of parts we sent you.  If you didn't back the project but still want to make one, a full parts list is included.  There's not much to it so it's an easy first solar project. 

Step 1 Gather materials

Shopping List:

• small DC toy motor like the CAT# DCM-368 from AllElectronics.com shown here
• small solar cell like the CAT# SPL-61 from AllElectronics.com shown here
• some wire - ideally red and black
• a 4.5" x 4.5" piece of cardboard
• 2 markers or pens

You'll also need a soldering iron and some solder.

Comments

[mslaynie]

I think this could be greatly improved by adding a simple description of what people are looking at, rather than telling people to "look at the video" or "go read the website."

[kunku]

can u please tell me whats that thing?

[dustynrobots]

See the link to the video below to see it in action. The miniSADbot is a miniature Seasonally Affected Drawing robot - based off of the installation Ben Leduc-Mills and I did at Eyebeam which is also a project from my book. It only draws when sunlight hits the solar cell. When it does, the motor will spin, sending miniSADbot into a spinning frenzy and causing it to draw with its two marker legs.

[lolcat360]

use a battery and make it draw an infinite circle!!! (well, if the battery would never die)

[thepete]

Just a quick question: in a sentence, what is a miniSADbot?

[kcls]

Post a video! Nice instructable.

[dustynrobots]

Thanks! There's a video in the flickr set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustynrobots/4813802089/