Fun DIY At-home Robotics Projects for Kids
Have your kids mastered building sandcastles, LEGO blocks, or indoor forts? Take their creativity to the next level by introducing them to the world of robotics with these engaging at-home projects. Discover the joy of creating moving toys – robots! In this blog post, we'll guide you through simple yet fascinating DIY robotics projects that you and your kids can enjoy together.
Why Parents Should Get Involved
Join your kids in crafting these robotics projects to make the experience more enriching. From cutting materials to testing the final product, this shared activity fosters a deeper connection while having fun with an unplugged robotics project at home.
Affordable Materials at Your Fingertips
The best part? These projects won't break the bank. Most materials are readily available at home or can be easily purchased at your local grocery store. Embrace sustainability by reusing and recycling items to construct your very own homemade robots.
Essential Materials for DIY Robotics
To get started, gather these essential materials and tools:
- Batteries
- Wires
- Small DC Motors
- Decoration for Style
- Scissors
- Cutting Pliers
- Ruler
- Wire Strippers
- Mounting Tape
DIY Robotics Projects for Kids
1. Homemade Spinning Brush Bot
Create a simple and amusing brush bot with readily available materials.
Materials needed:
Toothbrush
mini vibration motor
mounting tape
3V cell battery
googly eyes
Instructions on how to create the robot:
Cut the head off the toothbrush. Then, spread out the brush’s bristles to make it stable as the legs.
Get your motor with wires and use a wire stripper to expose ¼” of wire.
You need to add mounting tape at the back of the googly eyes.
Stick the wire to one side of the battery and the second wire to the end of the battery.
Use the googly eyes to cover one side of the battery.
To complete the project, you only need to attach the motor to the back of the brush and place the batter at the front.
As you completed connecting the parts, your brush bot will begin to move all by itself.
You may want your kids to observe whilst creating the robot together. Explain to them how it works and how real robots can do the same through computer programming.
2. Simple Homemade Robot Car
Move beyond the brush bot and explore the world of styrofoam robot cars.
Materials Needed:
- Foam
- Bottle Lids
- Straws
- Skewers
- Rubber Bands
- AAA Batteries and Holders
- DC Motor
- Switch
Instructions on how to create the robot:
Cut out your foams into three parts. One would have 4”x3”x2”. Then, your foams would be 3”x2”x1”. But then, you can still choose the size you want. Cut it using a butter knife or other cutters.
Next, prepare the wheels. Grab 1 straw and 1 skewer. Place them just above the largest foam. Try if they will fit, then cut the straw and skewer in half. Use glue to attach the uncut straw to the one side of the foam.
Across the other side, make a hole in the middle.
Afterwards, stick the two halves of the straws straight to the spot. Get the rubber band and insert it into the whole.
Insert the skewers corresponding bottle caps into the straws. Just make sure to hook the rubber band on the other side.
Then, prepare the motor system. Connect the motor to the battery pack and switch.
After connecting everything, arrange the motor system above the foam.
Don’t forget to add the two smaller foams on the other side of the hole. Place the smaller foams parallel to each additional making space in the middle.
Attach the motor to one of the foam. Most importantly, reach for the rubber band and hook it to the engine.
Parallel to the motor, add the switch on the other side of the foam.
Lastly, attach the batter to the largest foam.
Open the switch and test if your car robot will run.
Add the googly eyes and other decoration to make it more appealing.
The car robot will showcase its straight movement allowing them to run independently. You can create this robot with other materials you have as long as you do the procedure for the wheels connected to the motor system.
3. Homemade Wigglebot
Build an entertaining robot capable of creating circular patterns.
Materials Needed:
- Disposable Cup
- Electrical Tape
- Markers
- AAA Batteries and Holder
- DC Motor
- Popsicle Sticks
- Googly Eyes
Instructions on how to make the robot:
The first thing you need to do is attach the coloured markers inside the cups and form it as the legs.
Then, move on to the motor system by connecting the DC motor and batteries. Once connected, attach it at the top of the cup. Make sure that the markers can hold the whole weight of the robot.
Afterwards, add the clothespin with an attached popsicle on the motor. It will help to make the machine wiggle and spin.
Then, add the googly eyes and draw a smiley face.
To test it, place the Wigglebot on a white paper after removing the covers of the markers.
Insert the batteries and let it move around. If it works, the Wigglebot will make circular patterns on their own.
Besides these homemade robots, you can also make propeller cars using motors and propellers. Some parents also built walking robots made from popsicle sticks. Other children also experienced building spider robots which include real programming robots.
Exploring Real Programmable Robots
While these projects aren't programmable, they lay the foundation for STEM skills. Spark your child's interest in real programmable robots and coding through future experiments.
Skill Samurai - Coding & STEM Academy for Kids
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Conclusion
Embark on this exciting journey of DIY robotics projects with your kids. Foster creativity, teamwork, and a passion for STEM education, laying the groundwork for future achievements in coding and robotics.