Overview
Tools:
- Ruller
- Scissors
- Screwdriver
- Nuts and bolts
- Rubber bands
- 3 x Paper clips 32mm
Electronics options:
- BBC Micro:Bit
- Adapter to connect and power 5 servo motors
- 4 x 180deg micro servo
- 1 x 180 deg standard servo
- Calliope mini
- Servo board
- 4 x 180deg micro servo
- 1 x 180 deg standard servo
- Arduino compatible board
- Adapter to connect and power 5 servo motors
- 4 x 180deg micro servo
- 1 x 180 deg standard servo
Building time:
2 hours
Difficulty:
Advanced
Project info
This is my most complex Cardboard Robot model to date! Build a moving robot head with expressive eyes and mouth and control it with my face tracking web app. Great for a weekend project or an advanced school activity.
Big robot head uses 5 servo motors – 4 micro and one standard servo thus you will need some more advanced adapter board to connect and power all of the motors.
Range of movements:
- YAW – moving head left and right
- PITCH – moving head up and down
- MOUT OPENNES – controlling the jaw
- LEFT and RIGHT EYE – controlling left and right eye lids
Building manual
Design plan
Robot head templates
Big Robot Head Template
Printable and laser cutting template files for a DIY Robot Head. Available as PDF, DXF and SVG. Instant download.
Micro:Bit Code
Servo testing code
In this project servo motors are setup to work in specific range on different parts of the robot. In your contruction servo motors will always be setup a bit differently so it is a good practice to adjust them during the construction phase. Below you will find a basic code for Micro:Bit to adjust servo position.
Face Tracking App Control
Please note!
In this code sample I use a specific Micro:Bit adapter – DFRobot micro:Driver to connect and power 5 servo motors – this board has custom MakeCode extension with servo blocks used in this code.
You can use any other Micro:Bit adapter to connect servos but you have to make changes to the servo blocks in the code example.
