Hi everyone. It's my first time here and using an arduino in general and am very excited to work on my first project! It's kind of complex so I had a few questions about what parts I need/can use as well as programming and connecting things.
So, first things first. My project is making a full body animatronic wolf fur suit with my partner. We want it so that with analogue flexi strips and buttons on the fingers of one hand, we can make howling and growl/snarl noises, lift the lips to show teeth, lift the nose to wrinkle it when snarling and activate a microphone so others can hear us properly when talking (necessary?).
I was thinking of using an Arduino nano powered by a 9V battery connected via the Vin and Gnd pins as the controller. A hobby motor to control the lips and another for the nose separately, each controlled by a flexi strip connected to an analogue in pin. Then a button for growling/snarling and another for howling, each connected via a digital in pin that both lead to a speaker in the head. A microphone would be controlled by a button on the thumb which also leads to the same speaker.
Does this sound possible? I would also need to connect some form of SD card with all the howling noises etc as the on-board memory isn't enough (or for this purpose as far as I'm aware). Also, do I need to use any resistors/capacitors/transistors? If so where in the connection and of what strength?
Any help and advice would be much appreciated and you would have my everlasting thanks!
Wow thanks for the fast reply! The wave shield sounds like a great idea! Totally forgot about that piece of kit.
Yeah I'm aware it's a bit much considering I'm a beginner haha. But I'm a fast learner and have some programming experience, plus it's a great opportunity for me to learn something I've always wanted to learn
The microphone would pick up our voice when speaking when the button is pressed and then relays it to the speaker to amplify the voice, not sure if it's needed though as I don't know how muffled we will sound with the mask on.
The microphone would pick up our voice when speaking when the button is pressed and then relays it to the speaker to amplify the voice, not sure if it's needed though as I don't know how muffled we will sound with the mask on.
OK but I would just do that with a microphone, amplifier and speaker and leave the Arduino out of that bit.
Okay cool, I'll see how that goes with doing that then. Thanks again for the help! Although I need to ask still if I need capacitors and resistors for any of these components?
Although I need to ask still if I need capacitors and resistors for any of these components?
You need a resistor on each flex sensor. The best value to use is the value of the sensor at mid flex, measure it although it is not too critical.
You need some capacitors on the motors to stop interference that could randomly reset your arduino and depending on what sort of motor you use you might need a transistor and resistor to drive the motor.
I would use a collection of AA batteries in a holder, you can then use rechargeable ones and get the capacity to suit the running time once you know the current the whole system takes.
