Make
Way for Kate's Ducklings
Final Project ~ Mechanics
Mama Duck
Gears
Our Mama Duck is made of a Lego base with numerous
gears and 4 separate motors. She has 2 large wheels and a caster in the front.
Each wheel is controlled by separate motors, allowing her to turn. To turn the
wheels we geared a large motor down to 3: 25. This was achieved using a 24 tooth
gear to a 40 tooth and then an 8 tooth to a 40 tooth.
The neck is controlled by a separate motor. To create
the head turning, we geared down the large motor using an 8 tooth gear to a 24
tooth, then again, an 8 tooth gear to a 24 tooth, and finally an 8 tooth gear
to a 16 tooth to a 24 tooth crown, which spins the pole in the neck. This results
in a 1:27 gear ratio.
Finally, our fourth motor controls the wings. The gearing
includes an 8 tooth gear to a 40 tooth, and then an 8 tooth gear to a 24 tooth
to a 24 tooth crown, and then a 16 tooth to a 24 tooth. This final gear is connected
to another 24 tooth. These 2 final gears have sticks that poke the wings in and
out. This results in a 2:45 gear ratio.
Body
After building the Lego frame, we created a wheel carrier
to protect the wheels from the rest of the body. Next we created a stuffed body
to go over the frame like a teacosy. This way, none of the stuffing could get
caught in the gears and motors.
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Sensors
There is one sensor on the Mama Duck. It is a touch
sensor that is on her chest so that she can react if she runs into objects.
Handy Board & Cricket
The Mama Duck has a Handy Board to control her motors
and sensors. There is also a Cricket in her tail to allow her to communicate
with the baby ducks.
Baby Ducks
The baby ducks are made of a Lego cart with 2 small
motors each and a rubber duckie, generously donated by Kate. They also have a
touch sensor on the front and use a Cricket. The Cricket is programmed to send
out infrared signals (IR) to communicate with the other crickets.
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