How to Make a Very Simple Robot (JitterBot)

The Jitterbot is a very simple and cheap robot that you can make with items around the house. Also, you don't need to program or code anything! This is a great project for parents and kids, robotics/DIY beginners, or just anyone who wants to make an easy and fun project!

I recommend watching the video, as it will cover everything very throughly, and lets you visualize everything much better. I've also included the steps you need to build the robot.

An eraser is attached to the end of a DC motor. The shaft of the motor is on one side of the eraser, so it is imbalanced. The imbalance of weight creates vibrations that cause the robot to move.

Parts:

- 3V DC motor

- Eraser

- Cardboard or Foamboard

- Two-Wire Toggle Switch

- Push Pins, Craft Spoons, or anything that can be used as "legs"

- Various decorative materials

Tools:
- Scissors

- Wire Cutters

- Glue Gun

- Soldering Iron (if you know how to use it)

A DC motor and switch are hot glued to the top of the battery pack. A piece of cardboard is below the batteries, and legs can be attached there.

The video will really help you with this the most. Click here to jump to the part of the video where the build process begins.

Here's a step by step process:

1. Make sure the batteries aren't in the pack yet

2. Hot glue the DC motor to the back of the battery pack. Make sure the motor's wires are facing upwards.

3. Hot glue the toggle switch to the back of the battery pack.

4. Trim down all of the wires so that they're not too long (Make sure you don't cut them too short!)

5. Strip the tips of the wires

6. Solder or twist/tape (see video for explanation) the positive lead from the battery pack to one of the leads of the switches

7. Solder or twist/tape the other lead on the switch to the postive lead on the DC motor. (On DC motor, either node can be positive/negative. It's reversible)

8. Solder or twist/tape the negative lead on the DC motor to the negative wire of the battery pack.

9. Double check wiring and insert batteries.

10. Trace the bottom of the battery pack onto cardboard or foamboard, and cut out the shape

11. Tape the cardboard piece to the bottom of the robot (covering batteries)

12. Attach legs. I used push pins, so I pushed them into the cardboard and glued them down. You can use many other options

13. Decorate the robot any way you want

14. Turn on the robot. It will keep going until you stop it.

15. Experiment with the placement of the hole in the eraser, type of legs, and type of imbalanced weight.

If you have any questions leave a comment here or on the video and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.