2. Useful Background Information

To understand why the penguin performs its movement, we need to first understand each part of the mechanism , especially the main driver of this mechanism which is a cam. The specific cam in this mechanism is a radial cam with a flat-faced follower, meaning that as the radial shaft is turned (input motion), the follower will rise and fall in a repetitive vertical motion (Figure 1). The shape of the cam is what is called a Snail Cam or Drop Cam, meaning that because of its shape, the follower will rise slowly and then drop quickly as the cam is turned since the follower moves with the shape of the cam. The shape of this cam only allows for the motion of the shaft in the clockwise direction, as the mechanism will jam if movement is forced in the opposite direction.

Figure 1 (V. Ryan, 2006-2009)