[vimeo = 4703152]
Snoozy the Sloth clings to you and sleeps. While this may sound easily done, the maker wanted the sloth to actually simulate breathing with exhaled breath to add to the realism. To do this, they had to build a “respiratory system” out of a rubber glove, a solenoid, and a couple pumps. This kind of toy can be very beneficial to special needs children. The lifelike and calm behavior helps the child connect to the toy. The pumps and solenoid are said to not be too distracting, but we are curious just how loud they are. This seems well executed, and much more sloth like than slothra, another sloth toy from last week. Were these guys in an Arduino powered sloth making class together?
neat – breathing toys!
how about using linear step motor or voice coil and a diaphragm setup, like the rubber glove stretched over a cavity of some sorts (like a small jar / film canister). The linear step motor or voice coil should be nearly silent, and provide a sinus breathing rhythm instead of a slow inhale and fast exhale.
IT’S ALIVE!!!!
i like justdiy’s suggestion for the sinus breathing rhythym. also if the goal is for it to be a soothing presence, the sloth should have the same body temperature as a real animal. i think a litte warmth would go a long way.
that’s cool !
but that’s creepy !
but that’s cool ! i want one !
That’s kinda creepy…
too bad warmth would mean a high battery consumption
I agree about a stepper or voice coil actuator rather than a solenoid. The action of the solenoid being way too fast — unless you put some kind of valve in to limit the flow of air in and out (so that a quick action from the ‘noid produced negative pressure that took a second or two to equalize through the valve, the released allow the rubber glove to compress the air slow back through the valve.
wow, a toy that sleeps. they had that in the 70’s it was called a “pet rock”.
How many arduino’s are packed in there! 5? LMAO
lame,creepy, useless.. find another site to post your crap.
Ummm legionella anyone!
Interesting Video man
If this keeps up hackaday will need a “sloth hacks” section.
If that thing starts flailing it’s arms I’m so outta here.
So if my cat stops breathing can i stuff some batteries in it to get him working again!
Seriously marketable invention. This will probably be snatched up quickly by a major toy company or quickly imitated.
That’s some highly sophisticated electronics. I also like how the video and the serious voice makes this look like a great invention.
@ strider_mt2k:
I think we need a subset of the arduino hacks section: shit done with an arduino that should not be.
We probably need another section too, just labeled ‘wrong’, to stick slothra and the inevitable ‘twitter my bodily function’ hacks into. given the progress here, it’s only a matter of time before someone uses an arduino to build a toy sloth that detects and twitters bowel movements. they’ll have a big serious video about how it helps you child stay regular.
k.
zomg another sloth?!?
@Khordas: Way to encourage them by thinking up the next project for ’em! LOL
stop this over-engineered arduino bullshit
i hate to become one of the trolls, but next hack pls
Lol, I agree Bort!
elmo goes emo?
Although technically complicated due to miniaturization and programability, this is not functionally all that different from say, the midway amusements from a century ago that would “breath” and “talk”. Yes, it is interesting and looks like fun. But let’s not surpass our reach just yet, okay? A trained assistance dog (or other trained animal) is “very beneficial” to “special needs children”, a mechanical sloth is not.
Maybe this could be incorporated into the Real Doll for the Somnophilia market.
“The lifelike and calm behavior helps the child connect to the toy”
i wonder what will happen to the child when that rubber glove ruptures. Or better more, pops..
children with special needs suffer enough as it is
very informative thank you