robotmatrix.org

 Introduction

• Objective: This amusing animatronic executes twirls, shimmies and sways with great personality.
• Parts:
  • Robix Rascal Robot Kit/Construction Set
  • Sock
  • Colored glue attaching eyes and painting mouth.
  • Hair and eyes from craft shop (or use yarn for hair and paint the eyes).
  • Light-weight fabric sample for the gown.
  • Rubber bands to hold gown in place.
• To learn: Creating entertaining new dance steps for this construction draws on the skill and imagination of the roboticist/choreographer.

 Step 1: Assemble and build the Dancer Robot Body and Muscle

When building the project, mount servo 1 facing upward on the breadboard, and mount servos 2, 3 and 4 in a vertical stack, mounting them in an alternating fashion out-and-in from servo 1's output shaft. Keep lots of slack in the cables to allow for the spinning action.

The puppet itself is made of a sock with painted face and glued on doll eyes. The dress is an inexpensive remnant of sheer fabric (for flexibility) held loosely in place with rubber bands at waist and neck.

 Step 2: Dancer Robot Teaching and Macro Programming

The servos stacked together on the breadboard base allow the top of this animatronic to spin two full revolutions from one extreme twist to the other. You can easily program other "dance" steps using absolute and relative moves.