Introduction: Interactive Skull
I hope you enjoy.
Step 1: Materials
- A plastic skull
- 8 screws;
- Microcontroller (I used an Arduino board);
- A Protoboard
- A nunchuck (for nintendo wii control) with a adaptador
Note: I bought the adapter but can be easily made by following this step by step: https://www.instructables.com/id/Wii-Nunchuck-Adapter/
- Mini servos (initially, I use 2. An eye and another to the jaw);
- Batteries (attached to the computer, use the power from usb);
- Drill, various drills, a metal rod of about 20cm, glue, bits of wire, etc ...
Step 2: Riding the Skull
If the skull comes disassembled (like mine), mount it by following the manufacturer's instructions.
i detachedthe teeth and fixed then on the jaw. Note: I tried to use the most of the stuff I bought. Then I used the disposable part where the teeth were fixed.
The brain was not used because in his place will be the servos and the microcontroller.
Step 3: Preparing Eyes
Inspired by Achmed the Dead Terrorist, jeff dunham´s puppet, I decided to make the eyes move only sideways. Thus, it would be easier to assemble. Just increase the hole is in the eye with the aid of a drill.
Step 4: Preparing the Skull
The skull has two holes where the eyes are to fit a screw. Take care to drill the more centralized as possible because his skull will get a bit cross-eyed. In the eyes, has a "beak" that i had put one screw. For the eyes move, two holes were opened with a drill so that the rods made with the screws behind the eyes to move from one place to another. That done, I made a guide to uniting these rods, temporarily with a popsicle stick. The result was very good.
Now just put the servomotor and make linking a guide to terms with the eye movements controlled.
Step 5: Preparing the Jaw
With the help of a smaller drill, drill a hole at the ends that fit into the skull to pass the wire that will control the movements of the mouth. The "springs" that made the mouth be closed also been removed. It has two "balls" on the ends that were also cut because it difficult to correct closing the mouth.
Step 6: Placing the Wire Jaw
The wire for the mandible was done following the steps of the figure. By placing the jaw in place it was found that the bite was not good. So, I used a drill to fix it. This done, the teeth fit together right.
Step 7: Placing Mandibular Servo
The servant was fixed to the skull with the help of two bolts. The rod was made with a piece of wire for aileron control. It could simply bend the wire, as I did on the rod to control eyes. After determining the limits of movement (mouth open and mouth closed), I glued the rod in the jaw with two drops of superglue. Then just stick the straw in the servo and wire the jaw.
Step 8: Putting the Servant of the Eye
Servants working:
Step 9: Controlling the Servants
To control the movements of the skull, used as the "brain" an Arduino with the aid of a nunchuck.
To connect the nunchuck to the Arduino, I used an adapter.
Connections are very simple. Servants were connected to pins 8 and 9, with the help of a breadboard. The power comes from the Arduino when it is connected via USB or a set of batteries when not in PC.
The software, I got on the inside and adapted to the skull.
For more information, see:
http://todbot.com/blog/2008/02/18/wiichuck-wii-nunchuck-adapter-available/
Special thanks to:
https://www.instructables.com/member/oomlout/
https://www.instructables.com/member/dany32412/
https://www.instructables.com/member/josestude/
For they have helped me with their Instructables, using the nunchuck with Arduino.
Attachments

Finalist in the
Halloween Decorations Challenge

Participated in the
4th Epilog Challenge

Participated in the
Halloween Props Challenge

Participated in the
Hack It! Challenge
23 Comments
9 years ago on Step 9
its hard to help. So lets try something: data from nunchuck are appearing for you?
Search here: http://todbot.com/blog/2008/02/18/wiichuck-wii-nunchuck-adapter-available/.
First try to make the data appear. Then tell me what happened.
9 years ago on Step 9
Thanks! i tried this sketch on my arduinoUNO, all the wires are connected as well...but it doesn't work!! any suggest? When Arduino it's powered the servos make a small movement...and no more!
9 years ago on Introduction
veja como esta¡ ficando ,ainda falta os leds vermelhos atraz dos olhos e um grito horripilante quando abrir a boca. hehe
abraco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYRq9GiP5zI&list=UUQN7G25845aVjhWSee1qkKA&index=1&feature=plcp
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Hehehe.. Ficou legal. Colocou um servo em cada olho. Boa idéia!
9 years ago on Introduction
olá, só agora consegui , junto à Abril, comprar os volumes 1 e2 . agora vou poder montar o meu com controle remoto. hehehe
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Boa! Qualquer dúvida, pergunta ai.
9 years ago on Introduction
cool man.. cool.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Thanks.
10 years ago on Introduction
wow very cool might setup a display that you insert your hand in and it bites you
10 years ago on Introduction
wow! I like it! And I like Achmed, he's so cute!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks!
Be careful! Because he can kill you. hehehe...
10 years ago on Introduction
Só nas estastísticas dos jogos uaheuaheuahe
Um amigo meu tem uma caveirinha dessa, é aquela da revista? uahuahe
É de que lugar cara?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
É sim. Da coleção corpo humano da editora Abril. Sou do Rio de Janeiro. Vlw!
10 years ago on Introduction
lol very nice creation!
I have a skull like this from a magazine collection too.
I always full with candies for Halloween.
:*
10 years ago on Introduction
love it
10 years ago on Introduction
Muito bom! Utilizar o wii-chuck ao invés de montar um controle foi uma boa sacada!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Tambem gostei. Ainda mais que eu ja tinha tudo aqui em casa e não precisei comprar nada. O movimento do acelerômetro está no software. Basta colocar o servo da mandíbula ou dos olhos lá no pino 10. Também fica bem legal.
10 years ago on Step 2
where did you get this particular skull from, it's very cool. I've got one of the halloween talking ones from a couple of years ago that I could probably convert over easily for this as it already has servos, hinged jaw, etc. but it doesn't look nearly as realistic as this one.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Hi I bought here in Brazil, in a collection about the human body. But any other skull plastic could be used, with little modifications.
10 years ago on Introduction
Legal, vou copiar e fazer com controle remoto. muito legal. parabens