econoSpazzi

spazzi, solenoid, makezine, make, beatbot

Robot

By ignoblegnome
@ July 23, 2011

Dances to funky beats

Cost to build:

$20

Time to build:

4 hours

Actuators / output devices: 3x 12V solenoids
Control method: Fingers
CPU: Hobbybotics Hobbyduino
Power source: 12V DC 2A power supply
Sensors / input devices: Right now, buttons
Target environment: Wherever it is cool

While I was filming Make: Live episode 12 with Becky Stern and Matt Richardson, I saw they had a Beatbots Spazzi. I love those things. Becky was really nice and gave me a set of the Makerbot printer parts. I was really stoked to make one.

However, when I looked up the other parts I would need, I saw that the solenoids they were specifying on the Makezine.com website were $18 each. That's too much for my wallet.

I knew a source for a similar solenoid for only $1.50 each. Thus, econoSpazzi was born.

Here's the site for the original Spazzi project on Makezine.com. I bought my solenoids from allelectronics.com. They are rated for 24V DC, but I found that after I cut the included spring to size, they worked fine at 10-12V DC.

By Geir Andersen
@ Sat, 2011-10-01 11:27

Great hack with those

Great hack with those solenoids Andrew!
And for those of you with a 3D printer, here are the STL files http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:8909
This is definitely going up on my project to-do-list

By phatguppy
@ Sat, 2011-09-24 17:31

Arduino Code For Spazzi Robot?

I just built the Spazzi robot and would like to know if anyone has written code to make the robot dace to music or randomly. The code in Make magazine is for manual control, looking for someting a little more automated. Thanks,

By ignoblegnome
@ Sun, 2011-09-25 03:49

My current code is far from

My current code is far from perfect, and only dances to a set beat. It does not respond to music, but I have the same goal as you. However, if it would be of interest to see how I programmed several different moves and implemented PWM for smoother motion, I can post my code.

By phatguppy
@ Sun, 2011-09-25 16:55

Code for Spazzi Robot

Yes, please post your Arduino code for the Spazzi Robot. With Halloween approaching, I thought it would be fun to add an ultrasonic sensor to make it dance if people approached. Thanks!

By Paulius
@ Sat, 2011-08-20 12:07