Itty Bitty Vibrobot

This is a quick, easy project to build a tiny vibrating robot, a vibrobot. Vibrobots dance around typically by having an off-balance motor make them jiggle.

This one uses a vibrating motor from an old cell phone, a 3V watch battery, and a paper clip. A little soldering, some hot glue, and you've got a vibrobot!

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Step 1: Gather materials

Here's what you'll need:
1. A watch battery (I used a 3V, but you can probably use whatever you find)
2. A motor from an old cell phone
3. A big paper clip
4. Soldering iron, solder, flux (optional)
5. Hot glue gun
6. Electrical tape
7. Sharpie or other dark marker

Optional but helpful:
8. Metal file
9. Rubbing alcohol
10. Needlenose pliers for the bending

Waren-Neutron says: Nov 23, 2010. 11:37 PM

it is the simplest vibrobot in all.

shadowyblade says: Feb 7, 2010. 4:22 PM

Too bad this is technically not a real robot. A robot must respond to stimuli. However, vibrobots are always fun anyway. Good instructable!

D5quar3 in reply to shadowybladeSep 13, 2010. 4:18 PM

Actually when you bump it thats a stimuli and when you bump them they go the other way don't they?

shadowyblade in reply to D5quar3Sep 14, 2010. 9:44 AM

I suppose, if you were to interpret it VERY liberally.

D5quar3 in reply to shadowybladeSep 15, 2010. 1:59 PM

I like getting technical

iectyx3c says: Jul 27, 2009. 5:28 PM

Superb. Fun and fast!

bob the builder #1 says: Jul 22, 2008. 11:15 AM

could you turn one of these into a water strider robot?

mrdepo96 in reply to bob the builder #1Jul 15, 2009. 11:27 AM

a strider bot is much different, check out the instructible for it!

Sergant Tinkers says: May 23, 2009. 9:05 AM

You could also use a vibrating motor from a cheap vibrating motor from walmart.

Tommyhzy says: Mar 20, 2009. 10:21 PM

Please do not solder to the battery, someday it will explode and you will get hurt. I am very concerned.

maRiigeL says: Aug 22, 2008. 10:55 AM

can you user a pager motor instead of using vibrating motor that looks like a watch battery...??

bob the builder #1 says: Jul 22, 2008. 12:13 PM

I'm going to add floats like the stride bot to this!!

Lt. Duct Tape says: May 6, 2008. 7:19 PM

I found a way to remotely activate it and put it on my teacher's chair this morning!

bumpus says: May 6, 2008. 6:14 PM

i just made one, its awesome!!! I'm taking it to school tommrow

Whaleman says: Dec 20, 2007. 10:26 PM

Hehe, now all you have to do is put it in a fake cockroach and take it to Denny's!

LividMonkey in reply to WhalemanApr 25, 2008. 8:23 AM

Or Waffle House. Cockroaches love that place.

Whaleman in reply to LividMonkeyApr 25, 2008. 4:09 PM

Yeah... But I don't have any future in-laws who work there.... But could still work =)

Gjdj3 in reply to WhalemanMar 11, 2008. 1:41 PM

Lmfao. Outback Steakhouse might be a more appropriate target. I have actually seen a cockroach there!

corey_caffeine in reply to Gjdj3Jul 14, 2008. 11:29 PM

or some really high class restaurant

Eric-the-halfa-bee says: Feb 16, 2008. 5:39 PM

If you have trouble soldering to a battery or other smooth surface than a drop of soldering acid on it will rough up the surface enough that it stichs better that solder to solder.

dean-101 in reply to Eric-the-halfa-beeFeb 26, 2008. 12:13 PM

an easier way to do it is use a file or sand paper (lots cheaper also). the only reason i use these 2 is cause no where i no sells solder acid

Naeem Iftikhar says: Feb 16, 2008. 3:04 PM

Good its good as fun but I think if we do in this way lots of other ideas will come to other so you have done a good thing. I did not found your frofile but I think you are in good age and doing good, carry on God bless you.