The arm/servo would be controlled over the internet via a Raspberry Pi. I am familiar with how to do this part, but for the arm/servo/drumtick holder part I have no idea where to start. The only criteria is it needs to be able to hit the gong with a good amount of force. Also, there is no particular budget for this project.
Thank you very much for the advice. I’m very interested in the actuator idea. How exactly do you picture using the actuator to raise the mallet each time to winch it into place?
Thanks again for your help! Very much appreciated.
You can use a DC gear motor and servo, ratchet / crank system. The motor would wind the cable and the ratchet would prevent the pulley from rotating in the opposite direction.
Once the wire is fully wound, the servo can disconnect the pulley from the motor so it’s free spinning.
This is just one of many possible options and you may find or create something even less complex.
There’s no basis to start from since (at least to our knowledge) there are no commercial products which do this. You can certainly swing the mallet using a servo, but when it contacts the gong itself, it may cause damage. You might consider creating a hinge at the top of the frame to attach the mallet so it can swing freely, and then use an actuator to winch it into place. Once ready, you would release the mallet and let gravity take over. Another approach is to use a large solenoid and hit it directly.
