I really should know the source of this project on the Instructables site, but I don’t … anyone know?
Ancient Greek Programmable Robot?
quidquid bene dictum est ab ullo, meum est
quidquid bene dictum est ab ullo, meum est
I really should know the source of this project on the Instructables site, but I don’t … anyone know?
rogueclassicism 
I’m no expert on the topic, but it looks to me as if it is one of the automata of Hero of Alexandria. If you go to Leichter’s wonderful compendium of ancient science and engineering literature, click Hero, and open Heronis Alexandrini Opera Quae Supersunt. Vol I. Pneumatica et Automata, you will find something quite similar at page 357. I am guessing there is a back story here about the modern reception of Hero’s technologies. Can anyone else fill in that gap?