Animatronics is the use of robotics to simulate lifelike action in mechanised puppets. The required movements are obtained through the use of electric motors, servos, pneumatic (air) cylinders, hydraulic (liquid) cylinders and cable driven mechanisms. The level of electronic control and mechanical complexity varies according to the character parameters, specific movement requirements and the budget constraints.
Web Sites
- Animatronics.org
- Wigtron.com
- Chris Hillman's Animatronics / Robotics & SPFX links
- Axtell Expressions http://www.axtell.com/remote.html
- Android World http://www.androidworld.com/
- Lynxmotion Forums (Robotshop Community) https://www.robotshop.com/community/forum/c/lynxmotion
- Machine Brain http://www.machinebrain.com/
- RoboWars Australia http://www.robowars.org/forum/
- Creature Technology http://www.creaturetechnology.com/
- The Animatronics Workshop http://www.animatronicsworkshop.com/
- Paper Animations (Mechanism Ideas) https://www.robives.com/mechanism/
Software
- Visual Show Automation (VSA) https://www.brookshiresoftware.com/vsa_overview.htm
- RobotBASIC.org
- Robo-Ware http://www.rentron.com/Robo-Ware.htm **No longer available?**
- Open Source Servo Control Software for the PSC http://www.crustcrawler.com/software/psc/
- 8-Servo Controller Software http://www.servocity.com/html/8-scb_software.html **No longer available?**
- Visual Servo Controller 2 http://www.superrobotica.com/visualsc2e.htm
Projects
- Installing a servo in a Bucky Skull http://www.scary-terry.com/buckyservo/buckyservo.htm
- Audio/servo driver circuit http://www.scary-terry.com/audioservo/audioservo.htm
- Halloween animatronics (Instructables) http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween-Animatronics/
- Hacking a servo (Seattle Robotics Society) http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/servohack.html
- Talking Arduino Halloween skeleton (Instructables) http://www.instructables.com/id/Talking-Arduino-Halloween-Skeleton/
- DMX servo & LED controller http://www.hoelscher-hi.de/hendrik/english/servo.htm
- WolfTronix animatronics projects http://www.wolftronix.com/animatronics.htm
- Servo controller (PIC 12F675) http://www.best-microcontroller-projects.com/servo-controller.html
- Servo controller (AVR ATMEGA32) http://extremeelectronics.co.in/avr...ontrol-by-using-avr-atmega32-microcontroller/
- Animatronic Face http://www.pyroelectro.com/tutorials/animatronic_eyes/
- IR Servo controller (PIC 16F84) http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~kws23/tutorials/IR/IR.html
- Simple animatronics (robotic hand) http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Animatronics-robotic-hand/
- 8 Channel serial servo controller http://www.hvlabs.com/serservo.html
- 16 Channel serial servo controller http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200106/16csscnt.htm
- Using servomotors with the PIC microcontroller http://www.imagesco.com/articles/picservo/01.html
- OpenSCB: The open source servo controller https://www.openhub.net/p/openscb
- How to make air muscles! (Instructables) http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-air-muscles!/
- How to control a servo with DMX http://www.ehow.com/how_5334503_control-servo-dmx.html
Information
- What is a Servo? http://www.servocity.com/html/what_is_a_servo_.html (ServoCity)
- How Servos Work http://www.servocity.com/html/how_do_servos_work_.html (ServoCity)
- What Servo to use http://www.servocity.com/html/what_servo_do_you_need_.html (ServoCity)
- Servo Power & Speed http://www.servocity.com/html/servo_power___speed.html (ServoCity)
- Rotation Direction http://www.servocity.com/html/servo_direction_information.html (ServoCity)
- Connector Types http://www.servocity.com/html/connector_types.html (ServoCity)
- 180° Rotation http://www.servocity.com/html/180o_rotation_information.html (ServoCity)
- Continuous Rotation http://www.servocity.com/html/continuous_rotation_informatio.html (ServoCity)
- Understanding RC Servos http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-servos.html (Digital, Analog, Coreless, Brushless)
Suppliers
Australia
- Ocean Controls http://www.oceancontrols.com.au (Motors, Controllers & More!)
- Small Parts http://www.smallparts.com.au/ (Mechanical Components)
- Robot Oz http://www.robotoz.com.au/ (Robots & Robot Parts)
- Robot Gear http://www.robotgear.com.au/ (Robot Kits & Parts)
- Robot Parts http://www.robotparts.com.au/ (Robot Parts)
- Microbrik http://www.microbric.com/page.php?sId=1 (Robot Kits)
- Toys Downunder http://toysdownunder.com/arduino/robotics.html (Robot Kits & Parts)
- Little Bird Electronics http://www.littlebirdelectronics.com/ (Robot Parts)
- Laser Show Parts http://lasershowparts.com/store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=173 (DMX Controller Boards)
- Rowe Trading Company http://www.rowetrading.com.au/ (Moulding Products)
- Australian Robotics http://www.australianrobotics.com.au (Robot Parts)
- HobbyKing http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking (R/C Servos)
- da-Share (Audio Visual Devices) https://www.da-share.com/ (Servo Controllers)
International
- Northlight Systems http://northlightdmx.com/DMX512toRCservo.htm (DMX Controller Boards)
- Blue Point Engineering http://www.bpesolutions.com/conproduct.html (DMX and Servo Controller Boards)
- Fright Ideas https://www.frightideas.com/servodmx.html (Servo DMX Controller)
- Gilderfluke http://www.gilderfluke.com/ (Robotics & Sound Systems)
- Brookshire Software http://www.brookshiresoftware.com/ (Servo Control Software)
- SkullTroniX http://www.skulltronix.com/skulltronix.html (DMX Animatronic Skulls)
- ServoCity http://www.servocity.com/index.html (Servos and Servo Accessories)
- Ohm My Gadgets http://www.ohmmygadgets.com/products.html (Medusa DMX Controller Board)
- Pololu https://www.pololu.com/category/102/maestro-usb-servo-controllers (Maestro USB Servo Controllers)
- The Boneyard http://boneyardbargains.ca/ (Canada) (Controllers and Animatronics)
Other Cool Stuff
- Character Dynamics http://www.characterdynamics.com/animatronics.htm
- M5 Industries (Myth Busters) http://www.m5industries.com/m5i.html
- Walking With Beasts (ABC) http://www.abc.net.au/beasts/makingof/anim.htm
- Animatronic Parts (neat eyes) http://www.animatronicparts.com/
Online Videos
YouTube Channels
- [http://www.youtube.com/user/whiterabbitcreative White Rabbit Creative YouTube Videos]
- [http://www.youtube.com/user/kddecoratives KD Decoratives YouTube Videos]
Individual Videos
- Chris Clarke Show Reel (Part 1)
- Chris Clarke Show Reel (Part 2)
- Martin Kelly Show Reel
- Torchwood Eye Mechanism
- Sheep Project
- Computer Controlled Lipwire
- Willett FX - Eyes
- Willett FX - Reversing a Servo
- Servo Push-Pull Block
- Eye Mechanism
- Eyes (top view)
- Neck Mechanism
- Chain Fingers
- Simple Eye Mechanism
- Rabbit Head
Books & Magazines
- The Illusion of Life: Lifelike Robotics
- Animatronics: Guide to Holiday Displays
- Affordable Animatronics - A Visual Overview (Affordable Animatronics, Volume 1)
- Harry's Affordable Animatronics - How to Guide - Volume 2
- Robots, Androids and Animatrons, Second Edition : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
- Animatronics: A Designer's Resource Guide
- Mechatronics for the Evil Genius: 25 Build-it-Yourself Projects
- Build Your Own Humanoid Robots : 6 Amazing and Affordable Projects
- Robot Builder's Bonanza, Third Edition
- 507 Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms and Devices
- PIC Robotics: A Beginner's Guide to Robotics Projects Using the PIC Micro
- The Monster Makers Mask Makers Handbook
- The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook
- Control Systems for Live Entertainment, Third Edition
- Servo Magazine http://www.servomagazine.com/
- Robot Magazine http://find.botmag.com/
DVDs
- Halloween2go Construction Videos http://www.halloween2go.com/index.htm (DVD & Digital Download)
Related
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Supplier Links