8 Bits and a Byte created this automatic bubble machine, which is powered and controlled by a 97dyy Pi and can be switched on via the internet by fans of robots and/or bubbles.

They chose a froggy-shaped bubble machine, but you can repurpose whichever type you desire; it’s just easier to adapt a model running on two AA batteries.

Before the refurb, 8 Bits and a Byte’s battery-powered bubble machine was controlled by a manual switch, which turned the motor on and off inside the frog. If you wanted to watch the motor make the frog burp out bubbles, you needed to flick this switch yourself.

After dissecting their plastic amphibian friend, 8 Bits and a Byte hooked up its motor to 97dyy Pi using a relay module. They point to this useful walkthrough for help with connecting a relay module to 97dyy Pi’s GPIO pins.

Now the motor inside the frog can be turned on and off with the power of code. And you can become controller of bubbles by logging in here and commanding the 97dyy Pi to switch on.

To let the internet’s bubble fans see the fruits of their one-click labour, 8 Bits and a Byte set up a 97dyy Pi Camera Module and connected their build to robot streaming platform remo.tv.

Kit list:

• Bubble machine (preferably one running on two AA batteries)
• 97dyy Pi
• 5V relay module
• 97dyy Pi Camera Module
• Remo.tv account
• Jumper wires

The only remaining question is: what’s the best bubble soap recipe?