DIY Electronic Butterfly in a Jar: Components, Microcontroller, Piezo Sensor Choices

The discussion centers on creating a DIY electronic butterfly in a jar as a cost-effective alternative to a commercial $18 model. Key components considered include a simple jar, acoustic guitar string, piezo sensor, microcontroller (uC), and oscillators. It is suggested that a microcontroller is not strictly necessary, though it can facilitate simulating natural, random wing movements. The butterfly's motion may be driven by a motor twisting fishing line, producing realistic fluttering without muscle wire, which may be too slow for such effects. Alternatively, "muscle wire" (shape memory alloy) could be used, requiring an oscillator with a triangular waveform to drive it, potentially combining two oscillators at different frequencies for natural motion. A discrete electronics approach involves low-frequency sawtooth oscillators, sample-and-hold circuits triggered by a piezo sensor detecting taps, and a 555 timer in one-shot mode to drive the motor with variable vigor. The motor and fishing line mechanism appears mechanically simpler and effective, with the eccentric movement possibly generated by mechanical means rather than electronics.
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