Pete the Monkey

Members: Erica, Kenny and Joe

Prototype 1 - The Shmock-Up

The shmock-up of a swinging monkey idea was created with popsicle sticks, cardboard and fasteners. From these components we created a mechanism similar to a locomotive axle. The shmock-up monkey is going to imitate the motion of a real monkey swinging on a beam. The movement from the motor will promote action of a real monkey. Two similar mechanism were placed back to back in order to create a three dimensional motion. The wheels have a common axle so the cardboard wheels will spin at the same rate so the hands will move the same motion over and over and over and over and over and over and over. The common axle requires the use of only one motor to drive the mechanism. In the shmock-up hands were omitted but in the actual prototype the hands will be at an angle allowing the monkey to hold on to the beam. The monkey will move laterally allowing him to move down the beam. The monkey's center of gravity will be positioned which the monkey will swing back and forth on the beam.

Prototype 2 - The Interim Prototype

Our team used acrylic to construct the outline of the monkey. Our team made several different mechanisms to obtain the correct motion for the monkey. We examined the crank rocker, double crank, and the crank slider to get some approximation of how to model the motion. Our team also formed a body that looks like a monkey silhouette. The team added free-swinging legs and a tail. In addition, the team utilized a heat gun to make the hands bend over like hands. Our team also used the band saw to cut out the body for the monkey. The team used bolts as axles, which we should not have done, but it worked well enough for the prototype. The Monkey turned out too heavy, but this will be fixed by scaling down the guy, until he is lightweight. This second prototype would take a lot of torque to move down the rope. Going light will allow us to use some of the plastic gears and motors from the Radio controlled cars available from Dr. Murray.

The team plans to accomplish the following goals to improve Pete the Monkey. The team plans to:
  • Add a motor
  • Scale the prototype model down considerably
  • Get rid of Bolt axles
  • Make the tail wag or bounce
  • Add mass to feet to make legs swing
  • Fur body and vacuum formed face, belly, and butt
Pete will eventually work his way down a rope.

Prototype 3 - The Final Prototype

Watch the first video of this project
Watch the second video of this project