Animating Props with Bottango

Introduction

If you’ve ever dreamed of adding motion or simple animatronics to your props—think flapping wings, rotating gears, or interactive gadgets—Bottango is a fantastic place to start. This workshop focuses on using Bottango’s intuitive timeline-based interface and a basic Arduino setup to bring props to life. You don’t need advanced coding skills; just a willingness to learn and tinker.

Why Bottango?

No Coding Required: Instead of writing code, you use a timeline to animate movements, similar to video editing or 3D animation keyframes.
Beginner-Friendly: Perfect for makers new to electronics or servos—if you can drag keyframes, you can animate.
Real-Time Feedback: Adjust servo angles, speeds, and timing on the fly. Bottango immediately updates your prop’s motion.
Flexible & Expandable: Animate multiple servos or motors, sync movements with audio, and even integrate sensors later if you want to dive deeper.

What We’ll Cover in the Workshop

Hardware Overview: We’ll talk about basic Arduino boards (Uno, Nano, or similar), servo motors, and the simple wiring needed to get started.
Bottango Software Basics: From downloading and installing Bottango to walking through the interface. You’ll learn how to create and edit keyframes, control servo angles, and loop animations.
Connecting Bottango to Arduino: We’ll upload the Bottango driver onto your Arduino, wire up the servos, and show you how to make sure everything’s communicating correctly.
Hands-On Animation: You’ll animate a simple prop (or a demo rig if you didn’t bring your own) by setting keyframes on Bottango’s timeline. Watch as your creation moves in real time!
Troubleshooting & Tips: We’ll discuss common issues—servo jitter, power requirements, or connectivity glitches—and how to solve them.

Tools & Materials

Here’s what you’ll typically need if you want to replicate the setup after the workshop:

Arduino Board (e.g., Arduino Uno or Nano)
Servo Motors (standard hobby servos are perfect to start)
USB Cable to connect Arduino to your computer
Power Supply (5V regulated, if you’re running multiple servos)
Bottango Software (download from bottango.com – free to use)
Bottango Arduino Driver (available on the Bottango site)
Basic Wires & Breadboard (optional but helpful for neat wiring)
Prop or Demo Rig (some foam or 3D-printed piece you’d like to animate)

During the workshop, we’ll have demo rigs and servos on hand, but feel free to bring your own materials if you’d like.

Step-by-Step Quick Reference

Install Bottango on your computer.
Upload Bottango Driver to your Arduino (through the Arduino IDE).
Wire Servos to your Arduino’s digital pins, plus 5V and ground.
Launch Bottango and select your Arduino COM port.
Add Channels for each servo and assign them to the corresponding pins.
Set Keyframes on the timeline for servo angles at specific times.
Press Play and watch your prop move in real time.
Refine & Repeat to polish the motion until it looks just right.

Recommended Resources

Official Bottango Website
bottango.com – The primary source for software downloads, Arduino driver code, and official documentation.
Bottango Community
The site often links to a Discord or forum where users share projects, troubleshoot issues, and offer tips for more advanced animations.
Arduino Documentation
arduino.cc – If you’re new to Arduino, this is the place to learn about the IDE, libraries, and best practices for wiring.
Servo Basics
Hobby servos like the SG90 or MG90S are common. Tutorials on YouTube (e.g., “how to wire a servo to Arduino”) can help you get comfortable with servo control.
Maker Community
Check out maker forums (Reddit’s r/DIY, r/Arduino, r/Animatronics) for creative ideas and support.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Servo Doesn’t Move: Check wiring (signal, 5V, ground). Ensure Bottango is connected to the correct COM port and the servo channel matches your Arduino pin.
Servo Jitter or Buzz: Servos can jitter if underpowered or if the angles exceed their physical limits. Use a reliable 5V supply, and try reducing the motion range.
No COM Port in Bottango: Close any other programs (like Arduino Serial Monitor) that might be blocking the port. Make sure drivers are installed for your Arduino.
Multiple Servos Power Issues: If you’re animating several servos at once, consider a dedicated 5V power supply rather than the Arduino’s built-in 5V pin.
Exporting Animations: Bottango can export code to run your animation untethered, so your prop can animate on its own without a computer. Check the software’s documentation for details.

Inspiration & Next Steps

Expand Your Animations: Try more complex sequences, multiple servos, or continuous rotation motors.
Sync with Audio: Bottango supports adding an audio track, letting you time movements to music or voice lines.
Add Sensors: If you’re feeling adventurous, incorporate sensors (like a motion sensor) so your prop only animates when someone walks by.
Combine Techniques: Mix Bottango-driven motion with advanced finishing techniques—like the ones from our Paint Foam Like a Pro or Airbrushing 101 workshops—for truly immersive props.

Contact & Further Help

Workshop Questions: If you have any follow-up questions after attending the class, feel free to email us or reach out on social media. We love helping makers troubleshoot and improve their projects.
Bottango Support: For technical issues specifically related to the software, check out the Bottango forums or Discord. The community is very welcoming and quick to offer guidance.

Looking Forward to Animating Together

We can’t wait to see what you’ll create with Bottango. Whether it’s a simple back-and-forth movement or a multi-servo masterpiece, adding motion is a fantastic way to elevate your props. If you have any questions or want to share your progress, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thanks for joining us on this journey into the world of prop animation—let’s make some magic happen!