Summary of Interactive skull using arduino
This project transforms a plastic skull into an interactive decoration with movable eyes and jaw, controlled by an Arduino microcontroller and Nintendo Wii nunchuck. The creator modifies the skull by removing the brain section to fit servos and electronics, drills holes for eye movement mechanics using screws and rods, and uses mini servos powered via USB. Inspired by a puppet design, the eyes move sideways, and the jaw also moves, adding a dynamic feature to the desk decoration.
Parts used in the Interactive Skull project:
- Plastic skull
- 8 screws
- Arduino microcontroller board
- Protoboard
- Nintendo Wii nunchuck with adapter
- Mini servos (at least 2)
- Batteries (USB powered)
- Drill and various drill bits
- Metal rod (~20 cm)
- Glue
- Wire bits
I bought this skull to decorate my computer desk. However, analyzing better, I could do something more interesting.
I hope you enjoy.
Step 1: Materials
– 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: http://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
nspired 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.
For more detail: Interactive skull
