Shocked Monster
A tutorial using the servo easing library to make a little cardboard monster
By Sauda Musharrat
This project is a demonstration of how the servo-easing library can be used to create simple animatronic effects.
Materials
- Two micro servos
- Any Arduino boards
- Jumper wires – M-F and F-F
- Breadboard
- Painters tape
- Cardboard and cardstock
- Scissors and box cutter
- Glue gun
- Dressmaking pins (the smaller the better)
Step 1: Prepare the cardboard frame with slots at the back
This is the part where you can have fun with the design. Give your monster a blob-y shape and leave some space for the eyes. The blob-body must be big enough to hide the servos, the attachments holding the eyes and the pathway it will go under.
Step 2: Position the servo arms to start at 90 degrees
Repeat this for the second micro servo. Next upload the code in this link to your Arduino:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hr8mFUbFH6yDQdWHCt0CmZ898nnU3dTq/view?usp=sharing
Plug in the connections to the servo motors – in the code the signal pins are connected to Arduino digital pins 5 and 6. The arms should be facing each other, with the arms rotating away from each other.
Step 3: Setting up the moving arms to the servo arm
Step 4: Testing the arms with the frame
Make adjustments as needed to achieve a smooth, unobstructed movement for the eye attachments.
Step 5: Adding in the details
You can print and paste the shapes, colors, lines to complete the face of your monster. If the servos are not level with the base, you can create a platform to elevate the rest of the monster and allow space for the servos to complete its sweep.