Robotic lover Steve Norris is 51 years old. He designed many robots and managed them with his own automated home appliances and webcam. Do you also want to learn how to make your own robot? In fact, the DIY robot method is very simple and costs very little! The following guide will show you how to make a BeetleBot that is very similar to the way the famous sweeping robot Roomba moves. This simple robotic production project is very easy to complete as long as you have time and interest.

Step 1: Prepare Materials

2 small motors (you can find them on some toys or electronic toothbrushes)
2 single pole double throw switches (SPDT) or 3-way diverter switch
1 AA battery compartment (can hold 2 batteries)
1 piece of metal material (approximately 2.5 cm x 7.6 cm, such as aluminum is a good material)
2 spade connectors
Heat shrinkable tube
a round bead
Some paper clips

Step 2: Use a Heat Shrink Tubing to Connect the Wheel to the Motor

Cut a heat-shrink tubing that is slightly longer than the wheel and use a lighter or soldering iron to shrink it and secure it to the wheel. You may need to use a multi-layered casing to increase the diameter to make a "tire."

Step 3: Connect the Switch to the Back of the Battery Compartment

Connect the switch to the flat surface on the back of the battery compartment. Here you can also see the end of the wire. The switch is placed at an angle at a corner such that the rod-shaped metal strip at its distal end contacts the centerline of the device and is connected to the device.

These metal strips are also switches that need to be external and close to the wires.

Step 4: Place Metal Sheet

Place a 2.5 cm x 7.6 cm piece of aluminum in the center of the rear of the switch and bend the edge by a 45-degree angle. Stick it with hot-melt adhesive. Do not move it until it is fully seated.

Step 5: Connect the Motor to the Metal Wing

The hot-melt adhesive is used to secure the motor to the bent portion of the sheet metal, which allows the "tire" to come into contact with the ground. You need to pay attention to the power supply logo on the motor because the direction of the tire needs to be opposite to the direction of the logo. One of the motors is "inverted" relative to the other motor.

Step 6: Making the Rear Wheel

The robot needs to be equipped with a rear-wheel to make it move smoothly. You need to make a large-sized paper clip into the shape of a spaceship or house and place medium-sized round beads on top of it. Place it in the opposite direction of the protruding wire and secure the end of the paper clip to the side of the battery case with hot melt adhesive.

Step 7: Welding Robot

You need to use a soldering iron to solder the wires that connect the various parts of the robot. The welding work requires great care because it is necessary to ensure that the connection is correct. You need to solder the following places:

First, solder two switches.
Second, solder a small length of wire in the center of the two switches.
Weld the negative wires and switches of the motor, as well as the positive wires and switches of the motor.
Use a long wire to weld the remaining wires on the motor (connect the motors).
Use a long wire to weld the motor and the back of the battery case on the bottom side so that the positive and negative terminals are connected.
The wire of the positive electrode of the battery case is welded to the center portion and connected to the switch contact.
Solder the wire of the negative terminal of the battery case to the center part and connect it to another switch.

Step 8: Making the Antenna of the Robot

Remove the rubber or plastic from the end of the spade connector, unfold the two paper clips (until it is shaped like an insect's tentacles), and then use heat-shrink tubing to connect the spade connector to the antennae.

Step 9: Connect the Antenna to the Switch

Use a spade connector and glue to connect the antennae to the switch. Glue is optional (should be clamped)

Step 10: The Robot Starts Up After the Battery Is Installed.

The robot will move on the ground like the sweeping robot Roomba. It just doesn't clean the floor. Congratulations, now you may try to teach it the three laws of robots.

Step 11: Please Take Attention

Do not place the battery in the battery compartment until production is complete. Otherwise, you may get an electric shock.
Be careful when using the tool.

Introduction: Teach You How to Make Robots at Home