Animated Cat Toy
Introduction: Animated Cat Toy
It never fails. I want to play with my cat and she wants to sleep. She wants to play and I am busy. What to do? The Automated Cat Toy mimics my cat’s favorite game - chase the laser dot.
The purpose of this Instructable is two-fold:
1) demonstrates automating a task and
2) continues the instructional sequence on using the 2020 Lego Mindstorm Robot Inventor Kit.
This Instructionable focuses on programming the Robot Inventor’s sound. 141
It also elaborates on the movement, motor, and distance sensor commands which were introduced in the “Lego Robot Inventor Kit - Blast: On His Own” Instructable and the “Happy Pi Day!” Instructable.
Supplies
Lego Set - Mindstorms (51515)
Selected parts including hub, battery, 3 motors, distance sensor, technic beams (1x11, 1x7), connector beams, wheels, frames, pins, and bushing.
Additional Legos
1x1 plate round (4073) - red - quantity 5
1x1 round brick (3062b) - white or gray - quantity 10
2x2 round plate (4032) - white - quantity 2
2x2 round plate (4032) - red - quantity 1
2x2 round brick (3941) - white - quantity 2
2x2 dish (4740) - dark bluish gray - quantity 2
1x1 technic brick (6541) - reddish brown or dark bluish gray - quantity 1
Arduino Nano and Arduino Software
Laser Diode
Breadboard
9-volt Battery
Battery connector
Piece of Wire for the tail
Velcro
Mindstorms software
Step 1: Build the Mouse
This step shows how to build the Mouse. Follow the images using parts from Lego Kit 51515 as well as the additional lego parts listed under Supplies.
1) Connect the three motors to each other using black pins, position eight black pins on the outputs of the two outside motors, position one (1/2) pin on the center motor, attach the connector beams (3x3) to the bottom of the two outside motors, attach 1x3 beams to the outside of each connector beam, and insert one blue (pin/axle) pin on the outside of each connector beams (see images 1 and 2).
2) Connect 1x11 beam to front of the connector beams, attach 1x7 beam to front of 1x11 beam, insert five 1x1 round red plates into the middle of the 1x7 beam (the mouth), and attach all four wheels (see image 3).
3) Connect two 1x9 beams (stacked) to the motors between the rear tires using 3L blue pins and attach two 1x9 beams (stacked) to the motors between the front tires using 3L blue pins. These beams raise the hub higher (so that it doesn’t interfere with the wheels) and flatten the wires (see image 4).
4) Connect ten 1x1 round bricks together (thread the extra piece of wire through the bricks), position one 1x1 technic brick to the (½) pin on the middle motor, and connect the string of round bricks to the technic brick (see image 5).
5) Connect the technic frame to the top of the hub using black pins, attach 1x9 beam to the front of the hub using black pins, attach two 1x2 beams to the front of the hub, and insert two black pins in the 1x9 beam, one black pin in each 1x2 beam, and four black pins to the bottom of the hub (see image 6).
6) Connect two 2x2 round plates and two 2x2 round bricks together, attach a 2x2 cone to the round plates/bricks, attach a white 2x2 plate and a red 2x2 plate to the top of the cone to form a nose. Attach the hub to the motors, connect a 1x5 beam to the two 1x2 beams, and attach the nose to the 1x5 beam using a 3L axle with a bushing (see image 7).
7) Connect two 1x3 beams to the front of the technic frame using black pins and connect a 2x2 dish to each 1x3 beam (see image 8) for ears.
8) Attach distance sensor to the black pins on the front (see image 8) for eyes.
Step 2: Attach Wires to the Hub
This step shows the attachment of the motor and distance sensor wires to the hub.
1) Attach the motors and distance sensor to the hub (see image 1 for the lettering). 832