Building Your Own Robots

Introduction: Get Started with Robot-Building 2

About This Book 2

Basic Tools and Supplies 3

About You 4

For Parents 4

About the Icons 5

Project 1: Make a Brushbot, Fast and Easy! 6

Understanding What Makes a Robot 6

Building Your First Robot: Make a Brushbot “Walking” Robot 8

For Vibrating Motors: Hack Your Toothbrush 9

Use Just the Right Bristle Brush 11

Materials You Need 12

Tools You Need 14

Making the Brushbot — Simple Version 15

Making the Brushbot — Open Guts Version. 19

Remove the Battery Compartment and Motor from the Toothbrush 20

Only If Needed: Cut Off the Brush Head 21

Tape the Battery Compartment to the Motor 22

Test the Motor 23

Attach a Rubber Band to Hold the Battery Cover in Place 24

Glue the Motor to the Back of the Brush 25

Going Further 28

Project 2: Build a Robot from a Toy Car 29

Building a Motorized Robotic Buggy 29

Find the Right Toy Car 30

Materials You Need 32

Tools You Need 33

Making the Bot 35

Take the Body Off the Car Chassis 35

Add a Rubber Layer to the Motor Shaft 36

Wire the Motor 38

Mount the Motor 40

Test the Motor with a Battery 45

Connect and Mount the Batteries 47

Playing with Your Robot Buggy 51

Going Further 51

Project 3: Build a Mousebot 53

Getting Everything Rounded Up 54

Materials You Need 54

Tools You Need 55

Making the Mousebot 58

Add a Rubber “Tire” to the Motor Shafts 58

Attach Wires to the Motors 59

Cut the Base Piece 62

Mount the Motors 63

Add a “Tail” 67

Test Each Motor with a Battery 69

Wire the Battery Holder 70

Mount the Battery Holder 74

Playing With The Mousebot 75

Going Further 77

Project 4: Hack a Radio-Controlled Toy 78

Finding Radio-Controlled Toys for Robot Forging 79

The Good, the Bad, and the Not So Pretty 79

Steering Styles 79

Two Examples of Hackable R/C Toys 81

Hacking the Car-Type R/C Toy 82

Materials You Need 83

Tools You Need 85

Disassemble the Toy Car 86

Cut the Parts for the Switch and Control Base 87

Construct the Switch 89

Wire the Switch to Create an “H-Bridge” Circuit 92

Wire the Switch to the Motor 95

Attach the Wires to the R/C Car Motor 99

Wire the Battery Holder 102

Mount the Battery Holder 104

Test the R/C Car Using Your Homebrew Switch 104

Substituting with Readymade Switches 106

Extra Parts You Need 106

Wire the Switches 108

Run the R/C Car Through Its Paces 112

Going Further 113

Author Notes 114

Finding the Stuff to Build Your Robots 114

Discount General Merchandise, Supplies, and Tools 114

Electrical Supplies 115

Toys for Disassembly 115

Tools and Electrical Supply 116

Robot-Making Kits and Parts 116

Robotics Information, Building Plans, and Blogs 117

Selected International Sellers 117

Glossary 118