Art Bot
Create your own Art Bot, a robot with felt-tip pens for “legs” that wobbles across a piece of paper, creating drawings as it moves.
Materials:
- 2 x AA batteries
- 2 x AA battery holder
- 1 x black wire
- 3 volt DC motor
- Plastic cup
- Cork
- Popsicle stick
- 3 x thin washable markers/felt-tip pens
- Double-sided foam tape
- Electrical tape (or any strong tape)
- 2 x rubber bands
Where to buy the materials:
AA batteries, plastic cup, cork, popsicle stick, double-sided foam tape, rubber bands, felt-tip pens, tape – these are available at any craft store or large supermarket.
AA battery holder, 3 volt DC motor, wire – available online from Amazon.
Method
1. Insert two AA batteries into holder. Make sure ‘+’ signs on batteries line up with ‘+’ signs in holder.
2. Insert the motor spoke into the cork – just off centre.
(If the corks spins off the motor when powered up – ask for some glue!)
3. Make sure the switch is in the off position – have the face with the two “ON” symbols facing upwards and have the switch turned towards the right-hand side
4. Tightly twist together exposed metal ends of red and black wires from the battery pack.
Red wire to the left-hand connector of the switch and the black wire to the motor.
5. Use the loose black wire to connect the motor to the switch.
Use the small pieces of tape to wrap around the connections to secure them.
6. Use one elastic band to attach the battery pack to the plastic cup
7. Take the double sided foam tape and stick it on the motor case.
8. Stick the motor case to the side of the plastic cup.
Use the second elastic band to secure.
Make sure the cork level is above the end of the cup.
9. Tape three markers to the sides of the cup, equally spaced around the edge, to form a tripod.
10. Turn the power switch to the ON position. The cork should spin, causing the entire robot to wobble and move around.
If the motor does not spin, check that your wires did not come loose. If necessary, tightly re-twist them together.
