Solar Powered Robotic Head
Cawters Scrap Project - Autonomous Kinetic Scuplture
Cawters Scrap Project - Autonomous Kinetic Scuplture
Nice one and works like a charm. Made from some recycled electronic materials, such as motor from old Mac floppy drive, pair of infrared eyes and some small photocells from a broken solar powered red blinker. 74HC240 chip and some small other parts like resistors and capacitors. Head is mounted on the old dc motor junk.
What's the purpose? None! .
It's solar powered. Small solar cells collect sunlight or some other light from the other sources and when it's enough power in the capacitor then the head turns a little bit (small step) to the brighter side. On the sunny day head starts almost every second. But it is rather efficient under a desk lamp also. Under 100w it takes 10-15 seconds to turn one step. At night it sleeps. Voila, solar powered robotic head.
What's the purpose? None! .
It's solar powered. Small solar cells collect sunlight or some other light from the other sources and when it's enough power in the capacitor then the head turns a little bit (small step) to the brighter side. On the sunny day head starts almost every second. But it is rather efficient under a desk lamp also. Under 100w it takes 10-15 seconds to turn one step. At night it sleeps. Voila, solar powered robotic head.
Infra red eyes make the head phototropic.
Almost forgot to mention two LEDs. They make a nice blue blink in the moment of power.
Complete 'head' made from scrap. Works almost 4 years continously. Nice desktop gadget. Size about 10x10x10 cm.
I know, the soldering is a little clumsy, but this was a rapide prototyping. But hey, modern micro electronics never look so retro.
