BattleBots: How to build a DIY hopping bot
- 2 years ago
BattleBots is back on television. And with it comes all the bolt-busting, spark-spewing, bot-versus-bot action. If you’re like us, you’re stoked, because watching two robots smash into each other is pretty damn fun. Beyond the visceral thrills, however, these killer robots are great examples of the possibilities and excitement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
We’re celebrating the show’s Science Channel update with another entry in our “Maker Dads” series, which will be airing during the show. This week, our Maker Dad Shannon LaNier and his daughter Madison show you how to build a simple hopping, battling robot.
How to build the Hopping Bot? First, tape the wires of the battery snap to the motor post and hot-glue the 9-volt battery to the top of the motor. Then, connect the snap to the 9-volt battery to make sure the motor works.
Cut PVC into three half-inch sections with a hacksaw and cut straight across the circle, one-third of the way from one side. Then, put strips of hot glue on the outside of the PVC. Next, break off two 1.5-inch pieces of the popsicle stick. Glue the popsicle sticks to the motor shaft and then glue two of the PVC pieces to the Popsicle sticks. Finally, glue the third PVC piece to the front of the motor which are on the opposite side of the motor shaft.
Make sure to also decorate your battling robot! Once you have made a couple of robots, simply connect the batteries and let the battle commence!
We’re celebrating the show’s Science Channel update with another entry in our “Maker Dads” series, which will be airing during the show. This week, our Maker Dad Shannon LaNier and his daughter Madison show you how to build a simple hopping, battling robot.
How to build the Hopping Bot? First, tape the wires of the battery snap to the motor post and hot-glue the 9-volt battery to the top of the motor. Then, connect the snap to the 9-volt battery to make sure the motor works.
Cut PVC into three half-inch sections with a hacksaw and cut straight across the circle, one-third of the way from one side. Then, put strips of hot glue on the outside of the PVC. Next, break off two 1.5-inch pieces of the popsicle stick. Glue the popsicle sticks to the motor shaft and then glue two of the PVC pieces to the Popsicle sticks. Finally, glue the third PVC piece to the front of the motor which are on the opposite side of the motor shaft.
Make sure to also decorate your battling robot! Once you have made a couple of robots, simply connect the batteries and let the battle commence!