This is a quick and easy way to make your own HolidayBot - a remote-controlled tree/robotics platform.  Right now this is remote operated, but with very little extra hardware, one could add a micro controller and make this bot autonomous.

The basis for this build is a 3 foot (1 meter) plastic tree driven by constant-rotation servos.  I chose C-R servos because they have high torque and they’re relatively slow - exactly the performance characteristics you want when your bot has a three foot high tree on top.

Pumping Station: One happened to have a BOE bot kit and a Futaba 4-channel remote control transmitter and receiver kit laying around, so that became the basis for this project.

Here is the full BOM for the bot.

PS: Special thanks to Tim Saylor and Patrick Callahan for their build assistance, and Jim Burke for bouncing ideas with me.