Squirrel Chasing Robot

Using a bunch of 3d printed parts, I made a robot to chase squirrels.
First, the nerf barrel (with a squirrel on top) rotates every 30 seconds from left, to center, then to right. If the robot detects a squirrel, stage one is initiated. The robot charges forward then retreats. If the squirrel is still detected, the robot fires a nerf dart toward the offending creature. If the pest persists, the robot blows up a balloon and (using a heated resistor) pops the balloon.

Step 1:

First, there are a lot of parts. I used an Arduino Uno, a motor shield, a robot base (from MakerShed or Amazon), nine AA batteries, two servo motors, a pump motor (vacuum pump, Karlssonrobotics.com), a motion detector (parallax), a ball bearing (vxb bearings) and many 3d printed parts.

The design and print files for 3d parts can be found at:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:372541

You can find someone nearby to print the files using http://www.3dhubs.com

Step 2:

The software and block diagrams are here.

Step 3:

Start by assembling the robot base.

Step 4:

Add a servo motor to the top plate.

Step 5:

Print the squirrel barrel and paint the squirrel.

Step 6:

Attach the servo mount to the barrel using a soldering iron to weld the parts together. Add the servo motor. It is the release mechanism for the rubber band that fires the nerf dart.

Step 7:

Add a servo horn to the connector. Affix the connector/horn to the servo motor on the top plate.

Step 8:

Add the pump holder and balloon adapter.

Step 9:

Attach the bearing holder and bearing so that they line up with the servo adapter.

Step 10:

Drill a hole through the adapter and nerf barrel. Fasten with a small bolt.

Step 11:

Attach the pir sensor to the nerf barrel. Route the wires so that they will not bind when the assembly rotates.

Step 12:

Add the front warning holder. Print and insert the "No Squirrel" warning.

Step 13:

The "Balloon Popper" is a resistor on a stick. The little pump will not reliably pop balloons (at least I can't find cheap crummy balloons when I want them). After the balloon is inflated, the resistor gets hot and assures a pop.

Step 14:

Put it all together and you will have the most complex, delicate, high tech squirrel repeller available.

Step 15:

Comments

[Yonatan24]

This, And Nellie.

I died ;)

[-Nate125-]

It would be cool if you make it have a kinect sensor on it, my dog would go crazy!

[ivver]

Make it bigger, put some gass engine on it, some machinery and scare the hell out of the chipmunks :-P

[doxielover4ever]

If I could, I totally would!!! I LOVE watching squirrels get terrorized... this HAS to be better than sicking the dog on them while they are dangling from bird feeders!!!!

[InvictusLupus]

I hate squirrels. Terrible creatures.

[elektrikbilim]

Süper.

i will try it

http://elektrikbilim.com/

[jessyratfink]

This is intense! TAKE IT SQUIRRELS

[Danger is my middle name]

Wow, this is awesome! If only it worked on gophers...