How to Make a Sensational Animatronic Tail #WearableWednesday #Wearabletech #3Dprinting #Arduino
Last year I remember being mesmerized by enormous mechanical wings, but this year my fascination is animatronic tails. I found this delightful version on Hackster.io created by the team at Circuito.io. Before you start to worry that you may never have a tail this grand, just relax—they’ve created a tutorial on the project. It turns out the team created this piece for a live stage performance (although they don’t indicate the lucky performer). Here’s what makes their tail so special:
We placed three servos on the tail, which allow it to move in a close-to-natural way: once one servo pulls the other releases tension and vice versa. The top servo allows the up and down movement. We also added an option to toggle between the MPU and a joystick through the joystick’s push-button, so you can also manually control the tail’s movement.
The tail is controlled with an Arduino Uno and has a MPU 6050 triple axis accelerometer and gyro combo. So, it is highly reactive to movement, adding to its realistic response.
The project gives the 3D print files and code detail, but you’ll need to check out Circuito in order to get the parts and sample code break-outs. The beauty of this build is that you can easily add your own mods like LEDs, Bluetooth or other gadgets. I’m looking forward to seeing how someone integrates this tail into a costume. If you like the idea of a tail, but are searching for a mini version, you can always check out our Really Simple Tail, perfect for everyday use. You’ll just need to figure out the pattern of your fur. Make sure you send us a picture of your furry creation!
Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Every Wednesday is Wearable Wednesday here at Adafruit! We’re bringing you the blinkiest, most fashionable, innovative, and useful wearables from around the web and in our own original projects featuring our wearable Arduino-compatible platform, FLORA. Be sure to post up your wearables projects in the forums or send us a link and you might be featured here on Wearable Wednesday!