MAKE: Blog: Solar pendulum

Solar pendulum

Magnetic 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

- Solar Pendulum

From the pages of MAKE:
Intro To Beambots
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 | Permalink | Comments (0)

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