Aquatic Bubblebots

I have always been interested in robots that can move through the water. After finding a broken rc helicopter, I came up with an Aquatic Bubblebot. Bubblebots are quick, simple robots that move using a small propellor. They float using a readily available material, bubblewrap! These robots can be constructed for less than a dollar if you have the right materials. Hopefully, Bubblebots will encourage other people to create more aquatic robots.

Step 1 Materials

The materials you need for one Bubblebot is:
Some large bubblewrap (not the m&m sized stuff)
One motor with propeller (I got mine from the tail rotor of an rc helicopter)
One watch battery

You also need some scissors and some tape or sticky foam (to attach everything)

Comments

[Jedrokivich]

Is the on/off switch just a friction fit?
I can't really see how you turn on or off.

[afw11]

I just turned it one and off by having one of the wires between the tape (on the bubble)and the battery and the other wire taped to the other side of the battery. I know it is not the best way, but I was too lazy to find an elaborate solution.

[ILoveTech]

Yes!I want to see the video! How it moves? (I'm 10!)

[Si Thu Zaw]

How many runs do you think it will last?The motor is in the water so it won't last long enough to have fun.If you have the bot still alive,you can try making a hovercraft by cutting the bubblewrap into small hovercraft shape and put a piece of cardboard on it and tape it and move your moter and the battery to the hovercraft.So the motor will last longer and the battery will last longer because there's less drag on the prop on the air than in the water.

[afw11]

I had the motor in and out of the water for about half an hour when I was testing it, though you're right, it wouldn't last very long after being subjected to constant water. The hovercraft idea would make a great instructable!

[mfarooqi]

 so cute"_

[HermitGuy101]

Thats really cool! Where can you buy the mini motors with propellers? A model airplane store?

[afw11]

I got my motor from my broken rc helicopter. The motors you can probably find as pager motors in cellphones. (They have an off-set weight that makes them vibrate.) As for the propellers, you can probably find them in a hobby\model store, or if you are feeling adventurous, you can make your own.

[the "wow shammy"]

if you bent the wires close enough you could posibly get a water activated bubblebot!

[afw11]

Cool idea, the problem with mine was if I didn't use tape to secure everything, the battery would fall off.

[nepheron]

WOW that is cool. Would water wreck the motor?

[afw11]

No, I'm not an expert, but because it is such a simple circuit, the water doesn't affect it to much.

[nepheron]

Awesome, thank you!

[McLightning]

any video demonstration?

[mr.wii3]

sweet

[mr.incredible]

A smaller propeller would be more efficient in the water. It takes less power to turn. You could cut that one down a bit.

[ChrysN]

Cool, do you have video of it in action?

[afw11]

Yes, but my little brother was fooling around with the camera so I have to film another one when he isn't here.