Solar pendulum

From the MAKE Flickr photo pool
Flickr member Pocket-sized breadboarded a solar/magnetic pendulum as seen in the BEAM book - JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels
The self-sufficiency of solar power can really up the fun-factor in these builds - Magnetic Pendulum on Flickr
This site explains the project a bit more, and highlighting it's strengths:
- Back EMF powers the led
- slight vibrations allow the system to self start
- solar powered means years of joy with no support needed (this is my favorite part of beam art - it's allows there for you)
- self timing
- the magnet induces a slight current into the coil
- this extra current coupled with the energy stored in the capacitors trips the power dump
- the power dumped into the coil causes the magnet and coil to be attracted to each other
- there is only 1 degree of freedom in the system so it starts to swing predictably
- the orientation of the magnetic field pulls the pendulum towards dead center on the way in
- this same field pushes the pendulum away from the coil once it passes dead center
- the magnet induces a slight current into the coil
- Solar Pendulum
From the pages of MAKE:

MAKE:06 p.54 - A Beginner's guide to BEAM - Subscribers, read this article now in the digital edition.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 10, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects |
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