Trash Can Robot Clacks Around the House

Building robots is typically an exercise in precision and consistency. Clack, by creator Randy “randofo” Sarafan, however, takes an entirely different view of things, instead embracing inconsistency and imperfection for interesting and unpredictable results.

Clack is constructed with a small trash bin as its body, which is drilled on either side to accommodate a pair of servo motors. Servos are modified for direct drive, and zip-tied into place, creating a sort of differential movement setup. Legs an/or wheels here are created with four spoons attached to each servo horn via zip ties.

Power for the device is provided by a three AA battery pack, connected directly to each motor. This assembly causes Clack to clomp/clack around the floor, performing seemingly random movements per the imperfection of the spoon legs and drive elements. Clack is an extremely simple device, and it’s quite easy to build, likely appropriate for getting kids and/or adults excited about electronics and robotics.

While there’s no microcontroller or other control elements involved yet, one could potentially add this on, clomping around the house where you see fit. Sub in a couple wheels for the spoon legs and it would be much smoother… though perhaps that would miss the point of embracing inconsistency and imperfection. Still, the small trash can robot base it a neat idea to file away for potential usage in later projects.