How to Make A BrushBot

A BrushBot is a mechanical toy powered by a simple circuit with a pager motor that vibrates and moves the bot across many surfaces, like tables and floors. Toothbrushes may be inexpensively purchased, and in bulk, online.  For stability of movement, try lashing two toothbrush heads together with sticky tape.  Unlike real robots, this version of the BrushBot isn’t programmed; but, it could be with Arduino.  Start simple and then surprise yourself and others by inventing a completely new version of this fun toy!   See the links below for more inspiration.  See “How To” on Maker Kids for a video demonstration of BrushBot making.

Tools:  Wire stripper, scissors, strong clipper

Materials:  A Toothbrush or Toothbrushes, double-sided or velcro tape, vibrating pager motor, 1.5 v coin battery, decorative items (e.g. feathers, construction paper glitter) for customization

How To:

1. Cut the heads of the toothbrushes from the handle at the base of the head with the clippers.
2. If the bristles are uneven, trim with scissors until they stand flat on a surface.
3. Connect the toothbrushes with the double-sided tape, leaving tape exposed on the top of the brushes to connect the motor.
4. Next (if needed), trim the wires of the pager motor to one inch and strip the wire so about a 1/8 inch of the metal is exposed.
5. Then touch the negative wire (black) to the negative side of the battery.  Note:  The positive side of a coin battery generally is recognized by a + sign on the front of the battery.
6. Press the battery, with the black wire touching it, down on top of the sticky tape.
7. Now, you can decorate your BrushBot with feathers, glitter or put a wrapper around it, or anything else you like.
8. Finally, tape down the positive wire to the positive side of the battery.  The circuit is completed and away the BrushBot GOES!

Links:

Maker Shed Brushbot Kits with how to instructions:  http://makeprojects.com/Project/Building-BrushBot-Kits/77/1

BristleBot with on off switch:  http://andimthedad.com/post/23226567583/bristlebots

Steam-powered BoilerBot:  http://blog.makezine.com/2011/11/22/gift-singularity-steam-powered-boilerbot/

BrushBot Arduino Inspiration:  http://colab.portlandrobotics.org/group-projects/parts-swarm/parts-swarm-design/brushbot-comm-board/