Published May 28, 2014

Useless Box

A machine that turns off the knob that you've just switched on- a ruthless battle between human and robot.

BeginnerFull instructions provided19,921

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Zero

Breadboard (generic)

9V battery (generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

Resistor 10k ohm

small SPDT switch

servo motor

cardboard

Good quality ones

artist tape

dental floss

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

laptop

wire stripper

voltmeter

Story

Fascinated by this humorous anthropomorphic idea on instructables that left me philosophizing deeply about the essence of art, I decided to make this a project after witnessing many ruthless battles between human and robot on youtube.

How does it work?

The Arduino "listens" to the state of the switch and actuates the servo when the switch is activated.

In the OFF state, the Arduino sends the servo to the reset position. When a user flips the switch to ON, the Arduino sends a signal to the servo and actuates a finger to push the switch to the OFF state.

Instructions

1. Program the Arduino.

2. Make the schematics using 9v battery, wires, breadboard, 10 ohm resistor, Arduino, and a switch.

3. Launch Arduino.

4. Make a box with cardboard. [I made it large enough to house the breadboard.]

5. Create servo housing and the finger. [Here, I used a rectangular cardboard with a hole as housing for servo motor and dental floss to secure the bind of the finger and servo motor. The finger is made with multiple layers of S-shaped cardboard.]

6. Test the angle of movements and adjust numbers in the program. Make sure there is enough force for the finger to push the switch off.

7. Wire and attach power supply

8. Test the Most Useless Machine Ever and voila!

1 / 7

Note:

Move the Arduino to the side so when the finger rotates, it does not get in the way.

Attach the 9V power supply to the Arduino. Remember to detach the battery when not in use or else it will drain your battery.

Code

Arduino IDE code

// Sweep
// by BARRAGAN <http://barraganstudio.com>
// This example code is in the public domain.

#include <Servo.h>

const int  buttonPin = 2;
int buttonState = 0;

Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo
                // a maximum of eight servo objects can be created
int pos;        // variable to store the servo position
long timeDelay;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
  myservo.attach(9);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
}

void loop()
{
  buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);  
                            // Read the button position
  if (buttonState == HIGH) {
     for(pos = myservo.read(); pos >=20; pos -= 1) { 
                            // goes from 90 degrees to 20 degrees in 1 step                                   
       myservo.write(pos);  // tell servo to go to position in variable 'ONpos'
       timeDelay = random(15, 30);
       delay(15);           // randomize wait time for the servo to reach the position
     }
  }
  else {
     timeDelay = random(1, 4);
     for(pos = myservo.read(); pos <=90; pos += timeDelay) {
                            // goes from 20 degrees to 90 degrees in 1 step                            
       myservo.write(pos);  // tell servo to go to position in variable 'OFFpos'                
       delay(15);           // randomize wait time for the servo to reach the position
     }
  }
}

Credits

Thanks to rsucgang.

Useless Box

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

Schematics

Code

Arduino IDE code

Credits

Comments

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Useless Box

Useless Box

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

Schematics

Code

Arduino IDE code

Credits

Comments

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