To clarify, this is a homemade prop. The gate itself is made of PVC and 1" x 2" wood with two wood columns covered in foam board made to look like stone on either side. The gate is attached to the columns by tee hinges and opens inwards. Each side of the gate is 8' long.
My question is how could I make the gate open automatically using a motion sensor, pressure/step pad, or remote? Ideally a welcome message and creaking sound would also play when the mechanism that opens the gate is triggered. The gate is about 75% finished and I can make the sound files on my own, but I don't have any good ideas for the opening mechanism or how to tie the sound into whatever mechanism would open it.
I would like to try to use compressed air at least this year because I'm pretty much out of money as this has been an almost $600 project so far. If compressed air is an option how could I control the speed at which the gate opens? I don't want to have it slam back and forth. And how could I tie sound into a compressed air operated prop?
My question is how could I make the gate open automatically using a motion sensor, pressure/step pad, or remote? Ideally a welcome message and creaking sound would also play when the mechanism that opens the gate is triggered. The gate is about 75% finished and I can make the sound files on my own, but I don't have any good ideas for the opening mechanism or how to tie the sound into whatever mechanism would open it.
I would like to try to use compressed air at least this year because I'm pretty much out of money as this has been an almost $600 project so far. If compressed air is an option how could I control the speed at which the gate opens? I don't want to have it slam back and forth. And how could I tie sound into a compressed air operated prop?