MEDUSA HEAD! Aw yeah

Let's Make Robots Beginners
1

Hi everyone,

I am planning a Medusa costume for Halloween and would really love to have a head piece with moving snakes. Halloween is a HUGE deal to me, and I live in New Orleans so when it comes to costumes, you kinda have to go big or go home :slight_smile: I have no experience with robotics but there’s no reason I can’t learn, so what I am asking for is just some guidance in the right direction.

A more specific idea of what I’d like to do: I want to make a head piece that covers my whole scalp (no hair showing), obviously made entirely of snakes. They don’t all have to move, I’m thinking maybe if 3 or 4 or them did that would be plenty. The also don’t have to slither perfectly the way a snake would. There could just be 3 or 4 of them with heads that move around. Here is a link to a video of an animatronic prop that has pretty much exactly what I’m looking to do: youtube.com/watch?v=39ILtA_BSAU As you can see, their heads just kinda move in a slow, spinning motion.

So my question is, do you think this would even be possible using the types of robotic parts available on this website? If so which ones should I look into using? There are so many I was overwhelmed while looking through them! Or, if you don’t think these types of products would be appropriate for what I want, does anyone have any other suggestions?

P.S. If the snakes could have red light up eyes that would be even better! Any suggestions on that too? :smiley:

Thanks so much for your help!

Ophelia

2

You would either need a 6V wall adapter or 6V battery pack.
Four R/C servos such as 422:
robotshop.com/en/hitec-hs422 … motor.html
If the weight it will be moving or supporting is high, the servo needs to also be more powerful.

If you want to make more more complex motion, connect the servo’s horn (the white part which spins) to a cable system and essentially create your own animatronics.

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Since your example has the snakes basically moving in a simple rotation, I’d pivot the snakes a few inches back from the head in a ball joint (2D), and couple the other side of the snake “rod” also to a ball joint rotating on one of the holes of the servo horn. SO, the head rotates through a circle, exactly like your example.

Alan KM6VV