Drunk animatronic Santa

posted Dec 15th 2005 5:00am by
filed under: misc hacks

drunk santa

Reader [Josh McCormick] hacked this awesomely drunk animatronic Santa. Here’s a cached video link. He purchased the 5 foot tall singing and dancing Santa Claus at Walmart for $50 with the intention of modifying it for an art show. Once he got it home he began tearing it down. He found the brains of the device in the left foot (just like Santa!). The motion control is all analog and there is a hidden potentiometer that controls the dancing rate (jigginess). Josh used a BS2P40 Parallax BASIC Stamp for the digital control of the device and the sound samples were stored on a Quadravox QV306M4. To get the movements in sync, Josh recorded the performance as the sound clip was being played back. The movements were stored on a 24LC515 EEPROM. With some last minute work he got it to the show on time, but it unfortunately broke during exhibition and he did not win. There should be some consolation in the fact that it is on the internet now and will be seen by thousands of people instead of a handful.



23 Responses to Drunk animatronic Santa

  • Unomi says:

    And? Did he also put Rudolf’s nose on Santa? I mean, you’re drunk or totally wasted/trashed. The difference is the nose or is that only a myth just like the whole Santa story?

    - Unomi -

  • aztek says:

    wow thats really great!! wish they had these in the netherlands.

  • jon says:

    I laughed so hard i cried…

  • grayskies says:

    Don’t the new ones have a mic input. I beleive my friend has one that does.

  • amaspri@yahoo.com says:

    Wow that is really cool. You should of won. Great job.

  • john says:

    Haha! I’m still laughing.

    Good show Josh, I don’t think I’ll be able to watch TV again without being a little freaked out.

  • Brett says:

    They sell a black santa at walmart too…

  • Pedro says:

    Now that is a hack…

  • rick says:

    I can’t get the video to work, I have WMP 9 on a MAC. It says the codec is not supported, suggestions? thanks

  • Sleighboy says:

    Viewing this is a TRUE blessing for this holiday season.

  • lotacus says:

    great job. would have bee a little funnier to and sexual movements when santa was talking about “mommy kissin santa clause” and what happened in the bed… Who’s your daddy! Man, I would have SO much fun with this project it’s rediculous. Just think, too, this santa doesn’t have to be seasonal. change the clothes, put a mask over his face, and he’s george bush.

  • mrklaw says:

    my favorite dancing Santa hack is the one found here http://www.hauntershangout.com/home/santahangman.asp
    They converted the Santa into a kicking hangman. It looks really creepy.

  • rmiller021 says:

    #10 Option Click it, it will download then open it in VLC or MPLAYER

  • ez says:

    my favorite dancing Santa hack is the one found here http://www.hauntershangout.com/home/santahangman.asp
    They converted the Santa into a kicking hangman. It looks really creepy.

    That is soo wrong, but funny.

  • madmax says:

    >>This santa doesn’t have to be seasonal. change the clothes, put a mask over his face, and he’s george bush.

    The obvious political joke here is Ted Kennedy! Chappaquiddick anybody? :)

  • mike says:

    yo hackaday, right next to the video link he asks that people dont link straight to it…

  • Jaspel says:

    I would just like to see you return it and the look on whoever bought it next.

  • ez says:

    That’s why it’s called a cached video. ;)

  • Alan says:

    Great hack! Those judges are on glue…

  • Ari says:

    Posted Dec 15, 2005, 2:00 PM ET by lotacus
    “Just think, too, this santa doesn’t have to be seasonal. change the clothes, put a mask over his face, and he’s george bush.”

    Lmao. I am so going to do that. hahahahahahah you have inspired me

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