The SunFounder 4-DOF Dancing Sloth was purchased from Amazon on February 25, 2022 for $59.99.  Amazon’s description of the kit can be found here.  A promotional video demonstrating the movement of the robot is here.  Watch the shuffling and dancing movement which enables the robot to move forward and backward, and side to side.  This fun video caught our attention and we wanted to learn more about how the robot could dance and move, and whether it was possible to teach (code) more fun dancing patterns…

The sloth is a humanoid type of robot that moves/dances on two (2) legs.  With its ultraonsic eyes, it can avoid obstacles.

The required battery is NOT included and must be purchased separately.  The robot uses a standard 9 volt battery, which can be purchased form Amazon here for $25.99 (includes 4 batteries and a charger)…

You will need a personal computer to perform the electronic and servo testing and alignment during the assembly process.  The testing will use the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) which will operate on a Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS or Linux computer system (assume one that is less than 5 years old).  The IDE will need at least 256K of memory and at lease 600 MB of disk space  For a description of the Arduino IDE architecture, click here.  The article may provide you with interesting background information, but is not required for kit assembly or testing.

Part 2 – Kit Packaging and Parts Inventory