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Posted by McJ on July 16, 2007, 12:49 pm
Hi. I am not familiar with rc but I'm hoping I might find some
guidance
here.
We're doing a stage play which requires a turtle or small tortoise to
remain
onstage for long periods of time. For a long list of reasons (which I
won't
even bother to go into) we'd prefer not to use a live turtle.
However, there are distinct downsides to using a simple prop turtle
made of
plastic or ceramic. We an in-the-round stage and members of the
audience
are going to be quite close to the turtle, and, as I said, it's on the
set
for considerable lengths of time. If we use a simple prop, it's going
to be
evident to everyone in about 3 minutes that it's not real.
Our prop man thought he would be able to rig a prop turtle up with
some rc
stuff so that we could make it's head move (either forward and back or
side
to side) on command from the tech booth overlooking the stage. But,
with
just a few weeks before the show opens, he doesn't seem to be making
any
headway. He doesn't really have rc experience and, when a person
starts
searching the internet, there is just so much information, it's hard
to know
how/where to start.
We've been looking at various robotic toys, pets, etc., trying to
find
something that would have parts small enough to put inside our prop
turtle
and wouldn't have movement that was too quick for such an animal. So
far,
most of what we've found is too fast/powerful.
Would anyone here be able to give us some recommendations? Any help
at all
is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Jennifer
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Posted by Pogo on July 16, 2007, 3:54 pm
> Hi. I am not familiar with rc but I'm hoping I might find some
> guidance
> here.
>
> We're doing a stage play which requires a turtle or small tortoise to
> remain
> onstage for long periods of time. For a long list of reasons (which I
> won't
> even bother to go into) we'd prefer not to use a live turtle.
>
> However, there are distinct downsides to using a simple prop turtle
> made of
> plastic or ceramic. We an in-the-round stage and members of the
> audience
> are going to be quite close to the turtle, and, as I said, it's on the
> set
> for considerable lengths of time. If we use a simple prop, it's going
> to be
> evident to everyone in about 3 minutes that it's not real.
>
> Our prop man thought he would be able to rig a prop turtle up with
> some rc
> stuff so that we could make it's head move (either forward and back or
> side
> to side) on command from the tech booth overlooking the stage. But,
> with
> just a few weeks before the show opens, he doesn't seem to be making
> any
> headway. He doesn't really have rc experience and, when a person
> starts
> searching the internet, there is just so much information, it's hard
> to know
> how/where to start.
>
> We've been looking at various robotic toys, pets, etc., trying to
> find
> something that would have parts small enough to put inside our prop
> turtle
> and wouldn't have movement that was too quick for such an animal. So
> far,
> most of what we've found is too fast/powerful.
>
> Would anyone here be able to give us some recommendations? Any help
> at all
> is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Jennifer
Maybe try hacking some of the Wowee type toys like seen here: =
http://www.wowwee.com/
Depends on how big the turtle is.
As for realism, I am guessing the audience will know it's not real, no =
matter what you use as a "stand-in".
Just my 2 cents -
JCD
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Posted by Joe Strout on July 16, 2007, 5:01 pm
This should be a pretty easy project for anyone with RC experience --
what you want is just a couple of servos connected to the neck of the
turtle. You can buy these at any hobby store, and I don't think they'd
need to be particularly powerful. The whole electronics will consist of:
1. R/C transmitter -- a simple 2-channel analog one will do; this is
what the prop guy up in the booth will use to control the turtle.
2. R/C receiver -- goes inside the turtle, and converts the radio waves
from the transmitter to servo pulses
3. Two servos -- receive power and servo pulses, and move a little lever
arm accordingly
4. Rechargable battery -- powers the receiver and servos.
The rest is whatever armature and mechanical linkages are necessary to
make this thing look like a turtle with a moveable head, but I assume
your prop guy can handle that part. (You could build this out of LEGO,
or Erector Set, or wood, or whatever medium you like, and then cover it
with a rubber or plastic turtle head/neck.
If you're getting down to the wire, it might be time to enlist some
help. Your local R/C hobby store can probably put you in touch with the
local R/C group; these are usually pretty active in the summer. Anybody
who's built an R/C car, plane, or boat will know everything needed to
make the above work, and could probably get your prop guy unstuck in a
few hours.
Best,
- Joe
--
"Polywell" fusion -- an approach to nuclear fusion that might actually work.
Learn more and discuss via: <http://www.strout.net/info/science/polywell/>
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Posted by on July 16, 2007, 5:09 pm
> Would anyone here be able to give us some recommendations? Any help
> at all
> is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
get a real turtle, put a fake shell over its' real shell. Hide an RC
receiver,
battery, and HV supply under the shell. Put electrodes from the HV
supply
to the feet of the turtle, and one on its' head. When you want the
turtle
to move, press a button on the transmitter, and it'll shock the turtle
and make
him move...
??
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Posted by JGCASEY on July 16, 2007, 5:11 pm
> Hi. I am not familiar with rc but I'm hoping I might find some
> guidance
> here.
> We're doing a stage play which requires a turtle or small tortoise to
> remain
> onstage for long periods of time. For a long list of reasons (which I
> won't
> even bother to go into) we'd prefer not to use a live turtle.
> However, there are distinct downsides to using a simple prop turtle
> made of
> plastic or ceramic. We an in-the-round stage and members of the
> audience
> are going to be quite close to the turtle, and, as I said, it's on the
> set
> for considerable lengths of time. If we use a simple prop, it's going
> to be
> evident to everyone in about 3 minutes that it's not real.
> Our prop man thought he would be able to rig a prop turtle up with
> some rc
> stuff so that we could make it's head move (either forward and back or
> side
> to side) on command from the tech booth overlooking the stage. But,
> with
> just a few weeks before the show opens, he doesn't seem to be making
> any
> headway. He doesn't really have rc experience and, when a person
> starts
> searching the internet, there is just so much information, it's hard
> to know
> how/where to start.
> We've been looking at various robotic toys, pets, etc., trying to
> find
> something that would have parts small enough to put inside our prop
> turtle
> and wouldn't have movement that was too quick for such an animal. So
> far,
> most of what we've found is too fast/powerful.
> Would anyone here be able to give us some recommendations? Any help
> at all
> is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
> Jennifer
Why does it matter if everyone knows the turtle is not real? A stage
play
is all make believe, none of it is real. The only important question
is: Is it
entertaining :)
--
jc
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> guidance
> here.
>
> We're doing a stage play which requires a turtle or small tortoise to
> remain
> onstage for long periods of time. For a long list of reasons (which I
> won't
> even bother to go into) we'd prefer not to use a live turtle.
>
> However, there are distinct downsides to using a simple prop turtle
> made of
> plastic or ceramic. We an in-the-round stage and members of the
> audience
> are going to be quite close to the turtle, and, as I said, it's on the
> set
> for considerable lengths of time. If we use a simple prop, it's going
> to be
> evident to everyone in about 3 minutes that it's not real.
>
> Our prop man thought he would be able to rig a prop turtle up with
> some rc
> stuff so that we could make it's head move (either forward and back or
> side
> to side) on command from the tech booth overlooking the stage. But,
> with
> just a few weeks before the show opens, he doesn't seem to be making
> any
> headway. He doesn't really have rc experience and, when a person
> starts
> searching the internet, there is just so much information, it's hard
> to know
> how/where to start.
>
> We've been looking at various robotic toys, pets, etc., trying to
> find
> something that would have parts small enough to put inside our prop
> turtle
> and wouldn't have movement that was too quick for such an animal. So
> far,
> most of what we've found is too fast/powerful.
>
> Would anyone here be able to give us some recommendations? Any help
> at all
> is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Jennifer