Tag Archives: motion sensing


Motion Sensing Pumpkin Vibrobot

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Mechanical Engineer and K-12 STEM educator, Ben Finio, has designed this kid-friendly motion sensing pumpkin Bot, which could be a fun project to make for the next Halloween. The thing I liked the most about this PumpkinBot is its simplicity and microcontroller-free design. His motion-sensing bot uses a passive infrared (PIR) sensor attached in front of the pumpkin to detect motion. Three toothbrush heads are glued underneath the PumpkinBot to give it a stable tripod. When a motion is sensed, it triggers the robot’s LED eyes and a DC motor attached on its back. A wine cork fixed to the motor shaft create vibrations that are strong enough to move the robot around. It works best on a flat and smooth surface. You can leave it on your porch and watch enjoying the PumpkinBot scaring trick-or-treaters as they approach to your door.

Motion sensing pumpkin robot

Motion sensing pumpkin robot

Remote motion sensing and triggering for your DSLR

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We have seen Angelo making a homebrew USB condenser mic and piezoelectric power generator shoes before, both of which were kind of cool projects. Now he has come up with a remote motion sensing and triggering for a DSLR camera utilizing his favorite tool, Arduino. He proposed the applications of this project in wildlife photography, sports, and home security systems to take automatic photo shots when motion is sensed. 

His project has two main units. The first one is a Motion Sensing Beacon, which is located at a remote area where the motion activities are to be monitored. It consists of a PIR motion sensor, Arduino, and a 433MHz RF transmitter module. When motion is detected, the Arduino informs the second unit, Remote Receiver and Controller, which consists of a 433MHz RF receiver, another Arduino, and camera trigger system. The camera is aimed at the same location that is being monitored for motion activities. When the Remote Receiver unit receives the go signal, it activates the camera to take multiple shots of the location.

Remote motion sensing and camera triggering device

Remote motion sensing and camera triggering device