module (o5). The motor is an output module and is color-coded green. Inside our hand puppet, this motor is either
ON or OFF. While there is a switch on the module that can
control the direction of the motor’s shaft rotation (e.g.,
LEFT or RIGHT), all we care about is using the ON signal
from the timeout module to make the motor turn ON.
Curiously, the DC motor module comes with a small
attachment called motorMate (a10). This is an accessory for
the motor that slips over the shaft and converts it into a
LEGO building element cross-shaped axle receptacle. By
using this accessory, we can easily incorporate a LEGO
“arm” inside the puppet which will cause the puppet to
move when someone yells into our sound trigger module.
Figure 2 shows the complete littleBits project
assembled and ready for insertion inside
our hand puppet.
You must calibrate the listening
sensitivity and the thinking timer
function prior to insertion into the
puppet. Don’t make the motor
movement lengthy nor excessively move
the entire puppet. I inserted the LEGO
arm attached to the DC motor module
inside one of the puppet’s arms. During
operation, Boo2U will slowly move one
hand for every loud noise. Figures 3
and 4 show the amount of hand
movement with Boo2U.
Coffin Cruiser
Every robot builder loves using LEGO building elements
in a project. Using the LEGO ecosystem is an easy way to
get a robot up and moving in a short amount of time. Our
Coffin Cruiser is no different.
Again, we are going to use only four littleBits modules,
but the results are going to be anything but little! In this
case, we are going to make a remote controlled DC motor
powered spook-mobile out of a stock LEGO Hot Rod
building kit (Technic Kit #42022; available at LEGO,
Amazon, Target, Sears, and eBay). Plus, to make this project
even better, you’ll be able to use your TV remote control
(any and every TV remote control should work with this
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Figure 2. Four littleBits
modules are used for Boo2U.
Figure 3. Waiting for a victim, err, Halloween guest to speak up. Figure 4. Just enough movement to catch the eye.
44 SERVO 09.2015