How to make a brushbot

Resource

How to make a brushbot

Resource Information

Abstract

By combining a brush with a motor and battery, you can make a robot that moves around.
This activity can be developed individually by learners or as a pair activity (2 learners) that shall be focused on the positive use of batteries, a motor and handicraft.

A brushot

Learning Outcomes

The learners will learn how to use different materials to make a brushbot.

Skills and competences

The learners can develop following skills and competences:

Handicraft
Problem solving
Teamwork
Motivation
Do-it-yourself (DIY)
Process management
Analysation
Creativity
Initiative
Planning and organising

Knowledge

The following knowledge can be gathered by the learners:

How to be creative
How to work with hands
How to understand simple electronics

Other Instructions

In this activity, the spinning direction of the motor’s shaft does not matter.
You will be making the schematic shown on the left.
You can read about schematics here (http://electronicsclub.info/seriesparallel.htm) and about symbols here (http://electronicsclub.info/circuitsymbols.htm).
The symbols in our schematic are wire, switch, battery, and motor.
The components are connected in series.

Connect the positive cable of the battery connector to one lead of the motor.
Connect the negative cable of the battery connector to one lead of the switch.
Using side cutters, cut approx. a 5 cm long piece of cable.
Using wire strippers, remove approx. 1 cm of isolation from both ends of the cable.
Use the wire to connect the remaining leads on the motor and switch.
Cover all connections on the motor and switch with electrical tape.
Test if the motor’s shaft starts spinning when the switch is turned on and nothing spins when the switch is turned off. If the motor’s shaft does not start spinning, check the connections of the cables.

Using double-sided tape, attach the battery holder, switch and motor to the brush.
Make sure the whole length of the motor’s shaft goes over the edge of the brush.

Attach a small piece of tubing onto the shaft of the motor.

URL

RESOURCES

Author

Martin Maidla

Language

English

Main Topics

Engineering, Mathematics, Technology

Keywords

battery diy motor recycled materials