How to Make Robots

Make your own version of a robot.

Robots have fascinated our imaginations for decades. It's possible to create a robot of your own, called the "bristlebot". You can build it for a variety of purposes. Alone, it's a great project for the hobbyist who likes to build his own toys. For students, a swarm of bristlebots bouncing off one another in a confined space is a great illustration of properties like particle interaction and trajectory. When it impacts a stationary object, it will alter its trajectory.

Things You'll Need

• Unused toothbrush
• Scissors
• Double-sided sticky tape
• Cell phone/pager motor
• 3-volt coin cell battery

Instructions

1. Remove the toothbrush body. Leave about a 1/2 inch of toothbrush neck. Set it down, on its bristles. It should rest perfectly flat.

2. Create a mounting surface with double-sided sticky tape across the top of the toothbrush. Cover the entire top side of the toothbrush head.

3. Mount the motor to the edge of the toothbrush head. Press the motor down firmly to cement its connection with the adhesive strip. The motor should rest along the length of the toothbrush top with the turning shaft stuck out over the edge.

4. Press either one of the wires from the motor down gently against the sticky tape to secure the connection. This wire should be stretched away from the motor towards the brush neck.

5. Place the coin-cell battery on top of the wire you just laid down. Make sure the bottom of the battery makes contact with the wire. Press gently to secure the connection.

6. Bend the other motor-wire down to connect with the top of the battery. The motor will begin spinning rapidly, creating a vibration that will shake the entire robot, and cause it to scoot forward on its bristles.

Tips & Warnings

• Trim the bristles down with the scissors until the piece stays flat.

• The "top" means the flat side of the toothbrush that faces upwards, after you've set the toothbrush head bristles-down.

• The cell phone motor, or pager motor, you need for this project can be bought wholesale or piecemeal on popular auction websites. But, if you have a cell phone or pager you don't mind wrecking, take it apart and remove the one motor in the device.

References

• Evil Mad Scientist: Bristlebot
• Johnson Space Center: Types of Robots