Robots and Monsters
Robots and monsters are usually designed to be operated remotely. Some famous science fiction creatures have required a whole team of people pulling levers, pressing switches and calling commands to function for just a few seconds.
Eyes
The eyes play a significant part in establishing the role of these characters and certain designs have become traditional. Metallic robots may require no more than slits which light up, flash or send out deadly rays. Creatures and humanoid figures need human-like eyes.
For these the surgical glass eyes used to replace human ones can be incorporated in the design; they look so real that the viewer is tempted to believe that the creatures are alive.
Eyeballs
Table tennis balls are invariably used for non-humanoid eyes, particularly where they are required to move. To do this they must be mounted on a gimbal, which will permit them to swivel from side to side and move up and down.
Bowden cables or spring-return nylon lines can be employed to control the various movements.
Eyelids can be made to move if they are constructed of thin latex attached to a half-ring which swivels on the same axis as the ball.
The mouth
It is not easy to create realistic lip and mouth movements, especially if they have to be synchronised with speech. Usually an up and down movement of the jaw must suffice.
Flexible latex incorporating a hinged metal jaw can be built into a solid head and, if articulated by pneumatic or hydraulic controls, will respond with reasonable mobility. Where feasible it is better to use an operator’s hand.
Other movements
Heads that turn and arms that lift can be actuated by electric motors. Should these be difficult to obtain they can be stripped from various domestic appliances, which also provide a wide range of belts, pulleys, chains, sprockets and gears.
Car accessories (wipers, heater fans, electric aerials, etc.) provide a rich source of low-voltage motors and drives. Few of them run silently, however.
A robot head constructed from metal and fibreglass. The eyes which move from side to side and up and down are made from plastic balls into which have been inserted the eyes from a teddy bear. Top and bottom eyelids are articulated and the bottom jaw moves up and down.
When finished this metal unit will be covered by a rubber face mask and dressed with eyelashes and a wig.