{"id":137,"date":"2012-12-09T12:29:17","date_gmt":"2012-12-09T17:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mcgurrin.com\/robots\/?p=137"},"modified":"2017-02-19T23:51:24","modified_gmt":"2017-02-20T04:51:24","slug":"an-unseasonal-post-automating-halloween-props","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcgurrin.info\/robots\/137\/","title":{"rendered":"An unseasonal post: Automating Halloween Props"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is more suited to Halloween then the coming Yule, but I finally got around to writing it, and besides, as I write this, there’s only 327 days left to next Halloween!\u00a0 There are several options for controlling animated props, including prop controllers specifically designed for this purpose.\u00a0 A recent addition to the market is the MonsterShield,<\/a> an Arduino-based prop controller with open source code you can modify.\u00a0 I haven’t tried one out, but thought it was work a mention.\u00a0 In my props, I just use a handy micro-controllers, such as an Arduino, along with sensors such as a PIR<\/a>.\u00a0 The PIR (or pressure mat, or whatever sensor you choose) sends a signal to the microcontroller when it detects someone, and then your microcontroller can trigger a whole sequence of pre-programmed actions.\u00a0 I had two such props in my Halloween display this year.\u00a0 The first is a classic “Monster in a Box<\/a>“.\u00a0 I use a PIR sensor to detect when someone comes near.\u00a0 When this happens,a Teensy<\/a> sends out an output to a Power Switch Tail<\/a> to turn on the power to a wall wart that delivers 12V power to the windshield wiper motor, as well as to a green light inside the box.\u00a0 I use a Power Switch Tail so that I don’t have to worry about any safety issues dealing with house current directly.\u00a0 The motor sequence has several stops and stop in it, of differing lengths, so that the action is more natural.\u00a0 After it triggers, there’s a dead time, so that it doesn’t keep restarting while trick-or-treaters are standing in front watching it.<\/p>\n

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Closed Monster in a box, showing the box with the PIR and Arduino that triggers the box.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Inside view of the Monster in a Box, showing the wiper motor and irregular cam.<\/p><\/div>\n

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