Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto Robot!
Hey there! I wanted to make something unique for my Dad's up coming birthday, and this is what i came up with. I call him Robo Man. His eyes light up and in his robot voice speaks "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto"
Sorry the pictures aren't super clear - i did my best but my camera is stubborn.
Sorry the pictures aren't super clear - i did my best but my camera is stubborn.
Parts
Parts:
tinfoil
cardboard tube with cap for one end (preferably the kind you get posters in - i have found that they're perfect for this)
(2) AA batteries
(1) 3v battery pack to fit batteries
(1) Double Pole Single Throw switch (SPDT)
(2) resistors (red,red,brown, gold)
(2) jumbo LEDs (i used red)
a few feet of wiring for the circuit
a few feet of thickish copper wire (the kind that electricians use to wire your house)
(2) washers the size of a quarter (I used the ones that come on skateboard trucks but normal ones should work too)
(2) aligator clips
(1) speaker with recording device like they put in birthday cards (i got mine from ebay for about three bucks)
electrical tape
elmer's glue
random parts to make up the robots features
Supplies:
soldering iron
solder
wire clippers/strippers
heavy duty wire cutters (for the thickish copper wire)
scissors
hot glue gun
tinfoil
cardboard tube with cap for one end (preferably the kind you get posters in - i have found that they're perfect for this)
(2) AA batteries
(1) 3v battery pack to fit batteries
(1) Double Pole Single Throw switch (SPDT)
(2) resistors (red,red,brown, gold)
(2) jumbo LEDs (i used red)
a few feet of wiring for the circuit
a few feet of thickish copper wire (the kind that electricians use to wire your house)
(2) washers the size of a quarter (I used the ones that come on skateboard trucks but normal ones should work too)
(2) aligator clips
(1) speaker with recording device like they put in birthday cards (i got mine from ebay for about three bucks)
electrical tape
elmer's glue
random parts to make up the robots features
Supplies:
soldering iron
solder
wire clippers/strippers
heavy duty wire cutters (for the thickish copper wire)
scissors
hot glue gun
Step 1
First, we need to make the body of the robot. Take your cardboard tube and cut it to the desired length (mine is 7in). I recommend using a large serrated knife. Mark out where you want to put the eyes (LEDs) arms, mouth, and switch (I put the switch on the back). Cut these as shown in the pics
Step 2: Tinfoil!
Now that the face has been cut out, we move on to the tinfoil. Make sure that the SHINY side will be the one on the OUTSIDE of your tube. Cover your Robo Man with some elmer's glue and gently roll him (or her) onto the tinfoil. Try your best not to get a lot of wrinkles - it looks kinda funny if you do - but they are unavoidable so don't get super worked up about it.
Step 3: Record Yourself
take your speaker/recorder and record whatever you would like your robot to say.
I used a free app called Voice Plus that let me record my voice and then change it so it sounded like a robot. I would recommend doing this and then playing that into your recorder - it really brings your Robo Man to life!
I used a free app called Voice Plus that let me record my voice and then change it so it sounded like a robot. I would recommend doing this and then playing that into your recorder - it really brings your Robo Man to life!
STEP 4: ELECTRICITY
I attached a picture of the circuit (sorry i took it side ways and couldn't figure out how to attach it to this instructable without it flipping to its side again)
notice that the notches you cut for the eyes is only a tiny slit? i'v found this, although a tad difficult, to be the most effective way to attach them - but feel free to just cut holes instead of slits. you will just need to use more glue when you glue them to the body:
have the wires sticking out through the slits and solder the LEDs to the wires, and slide them through the slits you have cut.
Also, to attach your speaker/ recorder system:
mine had 2 buttons. one for recording and another for playing. cut the wires that lead to the button for audio play at the base of the button. use either wire for either part of the circuit - polarity doesn't matter. when you go to glue this into your robot, glue the speakers to the inside of the cap that you put on the top. this will allow the sound to resonate through this body, making it louder.
I hot glued the battery pack to the inner back of my robot, to keep it balanced. yours may be different so make that decision based on which side needs more weight.
notice that the notches you cut for the eyes is only a tiny slit? i'v found this, although a tad difficult, to be the most effective way to attach them - but feel free to just cut holes instead of slits. you will just need to use more glue when you glue them to the body:
have the wires sticking out through the slits and solder the LEDs to the wires, and slide them through the slits you have cut.
Also, to attach your speaker/ recorder system:
mine had 2 buttons. one for recording and another for playing. cut the wires that lead to the button for audio play at the base of the button. use either wire for either part of the circuit - polarity doesn't matter. when you go to glue this into your robot, glue the speakers to the inside of the cap that you put on the top. this will allow the sound to resonate through this body, making it louder.
I hot glued the battery pack to the inner back of my robot, to keep it balanced. yours may be different so make that decision based on which side needs more weight.
Step 5: Legs
For the legs i used the copper wire and 2 washers
wind the wire in a spiral-cone as shown in the pics (I made mine about 4.25i in total height)
Hot glue the washers to the bottoms
Hot glue the legs to the robots body (I used empty bullet shells. I glued those to the robots sides and stuck the legs inside the shells and glued those)
wind the wire in a spiral-cone as shown in the pics (I made mine about 4.25i in total height)
Hot glue the washers to the bottoms
Hot glue the legs to the robots body (I used empty bullet shells. I glued those to the robots sides and stuck the legs inside the shells and glued those)
Step 6: Arms
To attach the arms, take the desired length of wire, bend them it the way you like, and glue them into the holes you cut out for them. (I added them with some nuts and washers as shoulders)
Glue the alligator clips to the end of the arms to act as hands.
Glue the alligator clips to the end of the arms to act as hands.
Step 7: Extras
I was nice and decided to give my Robo Man some ears and a belt
For the ears I took some old fuses that i thought looked cool. Inspired by the instructables robot, I stuck these in a bit of red clay and glued them onto the side of his head.
The belt i made by simply wrapping and gluing some steel wire around his waist and gluing the guts of an ipod earpiece onto the front as a belt buckle.
For the ears I took some old fuses that i thought looked cool. Inspired by the instructables robot, I stuck these in a bit of red clay and glued them onto the side of his head.
The belt i made by simply wrapping and gluing some steel wire around his waist and gluing the guts of an ipod earpiece onto the front as a belt buckle.
Done!
Congrats! You have now made your own Robo Man!
I hope you liked my instructable - sorry for the blurry pics, I hope l'll be able to fix that by my next one
If you liked it please vote for me in the Audio Contest! :)
I hope you liked my instructable - sorry for the blurry pics, I hope l'll be able to fix that by my next one
If you liked it please vote for me in the Audio Contest! :)