{"id":12323,"date":"2016-02-10T20:00:23","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T04:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.digilentinc.com\/?p=12323"},"modified":"2021-06-16T14:24:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T21:24:35","slug":"build-a-tentacle-launchpad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/build-a-tentacle-launchpad\/","title":{"rendered":"Build a Tentacle Launchpad"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s better than building your own Animatronic Tentacle? Building your own LUNGING\u00a0Animatronic Tentacle. Whether your intent is to\u00a0petrify your co-workers or profess your undying love, this is the project for you!<\/p>\n

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It looks so innocent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Using the chipKIT uC32<\/a> and the always\u00a0handy zUNO clips<\/a>\u00a0(along with a few other materials), you can make that aerial appendage dream come to life. \"min\"<\/p>\n

For this project you need to build two parts. First off, assuming that you are trying to launch a tentacle an good first step is to actually have one on hand. This may require you to build a tentacle. My Instructable can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NOTE! The Instructable<\/a> uses larger zip-ties than recommended for a launching tentacle. To fix this simply follow the instructions but use smaller zip-ties and don’t worry about the rubber bands.<\/p>\n

Next, build the Launchpad<\/a>. Instructable found here<\/a>. The Launchpad is where the electronics will be mounted, and is conviently capable of launching much more than just squid-clipped sucker strips. It can also<\/em> launch a more sensitive type of projectile, the Kamikaze Kisses!<\/p>\n

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“Kamikaze Kisses”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These guys were inspired by the impending Valentines Day, and I can assure catapulting adorable\u00a0lip-resembling objects into people is a completely legitimate method of showing affection. To build these little suckers\u00a0simply slit halfway across a ping pong ball and glued lip shaped foam onto the top and bottom of the “mouth”. Then use Popsicle sticks to create eye-stalks, and hot glue on googly eyes.<\/p>\n

Other things that are fun to launch:<\/strong> Ping pong balls, pencils or pens, pencils or pens that do not belong to you, cat toys, catnip, glitter and love notes.<\/p>\n

See the Launchpad in action here!<\/p>\n