Bunzilla

Frequently Asked Questions for Bunzilla

(Note: Energizer is the registered trademark of Eveready Battery Company.   Bunzilla or it's creator are not associated with the Eveready company in any form whatsoever, nor is this robot officially endorsed by Eveready.)

These questions were asked by children, so the responses may not be suitable for all readers...

Why is the robot named Bunzilla?

The name Bunzilla was given to it by the Grade IV class of xxxxxx School, in Calgary, Alberta

How does Bunzilla move?

Bunzilla operates by remote control, similar to the type used by Radio Shack remote control toys like cars and trucks.  He has 3 wheels underneath him, one is just a caster to give him balance and it "free-wheels".  The two wheels on each side are driven by two motors removed from some old cars.  The remote control signals enter the receiver and are amplified by large transistors that supply the current for the motors.  Another circuit in series with the motors allows for biasing each motor so Bunzilla moves straight ahead.  The antenna for the receiver is in Bunzilla's head.

How long did it take to make it?

6 months working every night and every week-end

Why did you make it?

I always wanted to make a robot, and when I saw the advertisements on TV showing the Energizer Bunny walking across the screen, I knew I could make a robot to do the same thing.

How do the arms move?

The arms are each connected to a rod that connects to an odd-shaped wheel called an eccentric which is attached to a small motor in the main body.  As the motor turns, it pushes on the rod to make the arm swivel out and hit the drum.  Making the arms move back and forth was the hardest thing to do in the construction of this robot.

Does Bunzilla make sounds? Does he actually beat the drum?

Yes, it makes sounds and it DOES beat on the drum.  However the drum does not make the sound.  One of the problems I had was getting enough energy in the arms to hit the drum sufficiently to make a loud drum sound.  Since the arms were made of Styrofoam insulation to keep the weight down and they were only being moved with a small motor, I had to devise another scheme.  I bought an integrated circuit called a "sound chip", similar to what you might find in a fluff toy that talks and recorded a "drum sound" on it. .

How do the feet move?

The feet move up and down and are connected to the wheels with a mechanism that converts the wheel rotation into up-and-down motion.

How much fur did Bunzilla need to cover his body?

Actual used is about 3/4 square meter.  There was about 1/4 meter wasted in the cutting and pasting.

What other robots have you built

I built one called Duncan.

How much did it cost?

Most of the robot is recycled material.  It cost about $100 for the fur and the drive motors.

Does it have mucelectronics?

It uses electronics (integrated circuits, transistors, etc) for walking, and making the drum sound.  There is also a circuit to measure the life left in the batteries.  

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