Sierra Vista Spring 2022 STEM Classes

Guide students in building and experimenting with Brush Bot as per instructions.

How does the Brush Bot Work?

This bot builds on the concept of “Eccentric Rotation.” A motor with an “eccentric wheel” (unbalanced wheel), shakes wildly when rotating. The elasticity of the plastic bristles transforms the force of the unbalanced rotation of the motor to move the bot forward and around. The type of surface determines the speed of the bot and its behavior.

Conduct your own experiments to find out more!

EXPERIMENTS:

1. Experiment with changing the direction of the brush’s bristles? Can you control the behavior of the bot?
2. How do different surfaces affect the bot’s movement? Why do you think that is?
3. How does “friction” figure into all these experiments?
4. What other experiments can you come up with?
5. Can you calculate the speed of your bot? You will need a measuring tape and a timer. Your speed can then be expressed as distance/duration, just like mph (miles per hour). In our case it will be more like inches per seconds, for example. Advanced math wizards can probably take this a few steps further and express the speed in miles per hour.

Guide students in the building of this bot, which is more complicated due to more building steps, small screws, etc. This bot should also be explored in class as an art tool, as it draws circles patterns. Make sure to ask classroom teachers to provide a sheet of paper for students so they can experiment drawing with the bot. Make sure to also tell students NOT to remove the caps from the felt pens, unless the bot is placed on a piece of paper.

Science behind the Drawing Bot

How does the Drawing Bot Work?
This bot builds on the concept of “Eccentric Rotation.” The rocker applies an “unbalanced weight” on the motor shaft, thereby causing the motor to shake wildly while rotating. Eccentric, means “out of the center”. Without the unbalanced weight on the shaft, the motor would hum along quietly without shaking, as the shaft would be “centered”. With the rocker, the shaft is “out of the center”. The rocking motion is utilized to move the bot in a circular motion. By adding felt markers as “legs”, the bot is able to draw its movements on paper. Enjoy!

EXPERIMENTS: 

1. Experiment with switching the motor wires. How does it affect the bot’s drawing? 
2. Why is the motor placed inside a foam motor mount? 
3. What do you think will happen when placing the brackets (and markers) at different angles on the propeller plate? How would it affect the drawing? 
4. How does using different types of paper affect the bot’s ability to draw? Why? 
5. What other experiments can you come up with? 
6. What does the switch do? How do you think it works?

   

  

This booklet "Exploring ROBO X1" will help you learn more about your ROBO X1 bot.

Follow step-by-step instructions to assemble your ROBO X1 bot.

What is Computer Coding?

Follow simple steps to program your ROBO X1 to move forward, turn left and turn right. Use these commands to program your bot to follow lines and paths, navigate obstacle courses, and move in the shape of letters and geometric shapes!

Now, that you know how to program your ROBO X1, you can make it perform all kinds of tasks, like moving in shapes, following a line or a path, moving through a maze or obstacle course.
You can also use LEGO bricks and elements to make it look unique and create a different robot.

Now let's explore some of these activities -> Go to next section

Let's explore ROBO X1 and program your bot to move in shapes, navigate roads and pathways, and much more! Click Link Above. 

Ready - Set - Go!