Introduction: Water Color Bot Kit

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PURPOSE: Design a motorized bot that "paints."

Step 1: DOCUMENT

Document and share your process and final object by taking photographs and/or videos with your phone. Be sure not to include any faces. Email or text Indiana University Researchers at makengineeringkits@gmail.com. We may post these on our Facebook page – STEM Education Research Group at IUB (@IUBSTEMeducation).

Step 2:

Set out the paper provided on a flat, hard surface.

**We suggest layering the paper so the water colors do not bleed onto any surface.**

Step 3:

Connect the battery to the motor. This is to ensure that you can properly connect the battery. Once you know it work, disconnect before proceeding.

KIT-CHAT

  1. Explain how you must connect the motor to the battery. How will you make sure the connection is secure?
  2. Find other things around the room that might use similar motors

Step 4:

Build the frame or body of your bot using Q-tips, cotton balls, rubber bands and/or tape.

Step 5:

Attach the battery to the body of your bot. At this point, test to make sure that your water color bot still stands.

KIT-CHAT

  1. What did you need to keep in mind when attaching the battery to the body of the bot?
  2. Is your bot tipping over? How might you fix this issue?

Step 6:

Securely attach the motor to the battery.

KIT-CHAT

Is the motor not be working? How might you solve this issue?

Step 7:

Dip the end of each Q-tip into the water color of your choosing. Time to let you water color PAINT!

KIT-CHAT

  1. Why might your bot not be moving?
  2. How might the paint be an issue?

Step 8: CHALLENGES

Experiment with a few of our challenges. Design a water color bot...

  1. using no cotton balls.
  2. using fewer Q-tips.
  3. without tape.
  4. using other household objects.

Step 9: DID YOU KNOW?

Graphic artists, also known as graphic designers, use technology and artistic skills to create designs such as logos, advertisements, food labels, billboards, or magazine covers. Graphic artists need to be skilled with computers and various design software.

Step 10: TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

Weave the rubber bands in and out of the Q-tips as opposed to wrapping the rubber bands around all the Q-tips.

Attach the battery to the center of the water color bot.

Ensure the tape is securely attaching the motor to the battery. At times, the connection can become loose.

Lightly dip the Q-tip into the water color paint.

Use Q-tips as a brace (see image above).

Step 11: DON'T FORGET...

Email or text us your photographs and/or videos - makengineeringkits@gmail.com