Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Bristle Bots


My husband is quite handy. While he may not be the world's best carpenter or plumber (though he can definitely hold his own) he is amazing when it comes to electronics. The man can fix anything! Plus he is always building handy things - like the TiVo-like computer we use to record and edit out the commercials from all of our TV. When he found a tutorial on how to make little vibrating robots he knew he had to make them.

We had friends up earlier this winter and the group of eight kids seemed like the perfect time to make these little guys.


It was so much fun watching the kids (ages four to fourteen) helping each other build them and then race them around the table. While the older kids were ensconced in adjusting the location of their motors and batteries (to shift the weight and alter how the bots moved,) the little ones just giggled as they squirmed on the top of the dining room table. Plus, it was a great little lesson in electric circuits. (You've got to get both of those wires touching the motor to get it to run you know.)


If you would like to make your own, here are the directions. Even if you don't want to make one, it is fun to see how the little guys race around the table. They move a lot faster than you would think. One more thing. Don't buy the Schoolastic Bristle Bot book! It is a total rip-off. The guys at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories came up with the idea and were not credited in Schoolastic's book. Bad bad Schoolastic...

11 comments:

Shannon said...

All I can say is WOW!!!

Sam said...

Oh, thank you for sharing this project. What a great thing to do with a group. :-)

I have two robot-mad boys who will be delighted to have a go at this. I've already found where I can get the motors from!

Unknown said...

You guys are the best parents ever! How cool is that :) !!

Molly Betsy @ Star Cottage said...

That's awesome. Our hubby's would have fun together. Mine is a mechanical engineer. :)

misschris said...

Ha! That is so cool!!

The WoodLand School said...

This is *wonderful*! Thanks so much for sharing!

Pamela said...

Liz - You know I have boys, you must have been thinking of me when you posted this. How fun! My husband will be all over this.

Betts said...

Electronics is so not my thing, but they look like fun. I'll put my husband in charge.

Amanda Jean said...

i'll have to show this to my handy husband! how fun!!!

Anonymous said...

What a fun project.....good going A. Looks like something 3 boys we know would love, especially AO.

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