How to Make a Toy Robot Out of Cardboard

Three toy robots

Robots and robot costumes come in many shapes and sizes. Cardboard boxes from food and home products, such as pasta, pastries, paper towels and shoes, can be used to create a robot toy. Aluminum foil or silver paint can imitate a metallic surface, or leave the boxes as is for a 'junk' robot theme. Build the robot from the bottom up to ensure stability when the robot stands.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Masking tape
• 2 toaster pastry boxes
• 6 paper towel rolls
• Duct tape
• Large cereal box
• Scissors
• Wooden dowel
• 2 spaghetti boxes
• Clay ¼ cup
• Glue
• 2 Jello or pudding boxes
• 1 bow tie pasta box
• Silver spray paint
• 2 milk carton caps

Instructions

Cardboard Box Robot Idea

1. Lay the newspaper on a flat work surface to protect the surface from the spray paint. Close all of the boxes and tape the ends shut with the masking tape. Lay the two toaster pastry boxes on their side approximately six inches apart on the newspaper. These are the robot's feet. Lay two paper towel rolls down horizontally side by side so the open circular edges extend over the edge of the work surface. Lay a third paper towel roll horizontally on top of the first two where they come together to form a rough pyramid shape and hold all three in place with one hand. The paper towel rolls should be parallel with each other and the open round ends even so the leg will stand easily when placed vertically on the feet. Wrap a length of duct tape completely around all three rolls where they extend beyond the work surface. Wrap a second section of duct tape around all three rolls at the opposite end of the paper towel rolls. Repeat with another three paper towels. These will be the legs of the robot. Set the legs vertically on top of the center of the pop tart boxes. Tape the legs temporarily in place with a small piece of masking tape

2. Set the cereal box on top of the paper towel legs. Adjust the space between the legs so that the left leg will attach to the bottom of the cereal box within two inches of the left side of the cereal box and the right leg within two inches of the right side of the cereal box. Attach the cereal box to the legs temporarily with a short section of masking tape. Measure two inches down from the top of the cereal box and make an X on the side of the box. Repeat on the opposite side of the cereal box. Punch a hole through the box at each X. Insert the wooden dowel through both holes. These are the shoulders of the robot.

3. Lay the spaghetti boxes down side by side on a flat surface so the front of the box is facing up. Measure two inches down from the top of each box and draw a line horizontally across both boxes. Flip the boxes over and repeat the measurement. Draw another line horizontally on this side. Punch a hole on each side of the first box in the middle of the horizontal line on each side of the box. Repeat for the second spaghetti box. Slide one spaghetti box onto the wooden dowel on each side of the robot body. The wooden dowel should extend beyond the arms. Roll a small ball of clay and insert it onto one end of the dowel as an endcap to keep the arm on the dowel. Repeat on the other side of the dowel. Add glue to hold the clay in place as needed.

4. Attach one Jello box each to the ends of the right and left arms using masking tape. These are the robot's hands. Set the bowtie pasta box on top of the cereal box and center it over the cereal box. This is the head of the robot. Secure in place with masking tape. Verify the robot can stand freely and the arms can move at the shoulder. Adjust boxes as necessary for the robot to stand. Apply duct tape to hold all of the parts together firmly wherever the masking tape was used previously.

5. Paint the entire robot with silver spray paint. Apply two coats if necessary for complete coverage. Allow the paint to dry. Draw details onto the face and body, such as eyes, mouth, elbows, knees and dials.

Tips & Warnings

• Additional moving parts can be added by punching holes in the cardboard and inserting pipe cleaners with milk jug tops glued to them. The tops can then turn. Pipe cleaners can also be used as antenna for the head. Glue strong magnets to the bottom of the hands so the robot can hold metal objects.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Robot Craft
• Instructables: Cardboard Mini Robot

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Machine Science: Robot Kits