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A strange creature:
Popperhead_2 is a cross between a light seeking head and a photopopper. With solar panels on three sides so that he can capture light from any direction. He sits on a tripod of pager motors that power his rotation. With phototropic eyes in the front and photophobic eyes in back he does not really try to go anywhere but just turns on the spot to face the brightest source of light. If he can't decide where the brightest light is he puts the darkest area behind him. When he decides which way to face he wiggles back and forth waiting for a change in lighting. VERY fast in full sun he works well about a foot from a 40W lamp. Most interesting behavior outside in the shade on a sunny day. The solar engine fires fast enough as to not be boring and it is fun to figure out what he is looking at (or away from). Click here for movie. (134K .rm) Movie shows actual speed of Popperhead_2 locking on the sun.
| View from top.
Posing with Penney. |
| Side view from the rear. |
| Photo of frame before solar panels were added.
Location of IR LED eyes are indicated here. |
| Popperhead_2's complete "as-built" schematic. |
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e-mail me with questions or comments: jbsandcs@yahoo.com