ArtBots

Concept: Simple Circuits
A simple circuit is a complete course of conductors through which an electric current can travel. Circuits provide a closed path or loop for the current to flow. To be a circuit, this path must start and end at the same point.

Read Aloud: Making Simple Robots by Kathy Ceceri

Ingredients:

      ·         Pool Noodle
      ·         Electric Toothbrush
      ·         Rubber Bands
      ·         Markers
      ·         Googly Eyes
      ·         Pipe Cleaners
      ·         Pom Poms
      ·         Feathers
      ·         Paper

 Demonstration:

      ·         Cut a piece of pool noodle to be the same length as the electric toothbrush.

      ·         Insert the electric toothbrush inside the pool noodle, leaving the bottom of the toothbrush exposed so the on/off switch is still accessible.

      ·         Attach three markers around the base of the pool noodle using rubber bands. Make sure the marker tips are pointing down.
      ·         Decorate the pool noodle if desired.
      ·         Place the pool noodle on a piece of blank paper and uncap the markers.
      ·         Turn on the toothbrush.

Experiment:

·         What happens if you attach crayons to the pool noodle?

·         What happens if you attach colored pencils to the pool noodle?

Observations:
An artbot is a very simple type of vibrobot that uses an electric toothbrush inside a pool noodle for its body and markers for its legs. The key to the vibrobot movement is a motor that has an unbalanced weight. As the motor spins, the weight being off-kilter makes the motor vibrate. The artbot draws by vibrating its body and moving the markers across the paper. Pager motors used to create vibration alerts in consumer electronics use this technique.