PC Mouse Becomes a Remote-Controlled Toy (RC MouseBot)

A computer mouse can be modified to make various interesting toys. I made a video previously, of my simple robot that avoids obstacles. This is the link: 

https://youtu.be/3bd2T6099Nk 

Today’s project is a remote-controlled mouse.

PARTS

1 computer mouse. 

1 very small remote-controlled car. 

Batteries for the remote control.

2 small Googly eyes.

Short piece of wire insulation for the mouse’s tail.

8 bristles from a cleaning brush.

2 Small (#2) screws about ¼ to ⅜ inches long (7 mm to 1 cm).

Small piece of wood, about ⅜ inches thick (1 cm)

Small pieces of thick cardboard.

TOOLS

Dremel tool or a collection of basic tools: wire cutter, drill, small files, wood saw.

Glue gun or a glue that holds plastic, metal, wood, cardboard.

Small screwdrivers. My car and mouse needed a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Needle-nose pliers.

After taking off the top of the mouse case, remove the circuit board. Save the circuit board for possible use of some parts in a future project. 

In the bottom part of the case, cut out the flat bottom and most of the battery holder, but the hole for the screw holding the top and bottom must be kept. This may be done with a Dremel tool, or by drilling holes and cutting with a wire cutter. Rough edges should be filed down.

In the top part of the case, cut out anything in the way of the car to be attached. Half of the scroll wheel needs to be cut off. This is tricky to do with a wire cutter, but it can be done.

Attach the top and bottom parts of the mouse. Take the car’s body off the chassis and trim the trunk area such that the car will fit inside the mouse.

Place eight bristles from a cleaning brush into the small gap under the left/right “buttons”, four on each side. It is useful to have tape holding them in place for gluing, as shown in the photo. Glue the whiskers from the outside and/or the inside.

Drill a hole in the back of the bottom of the mouse case. Push one end of the wire insulation in the hole and glue it in place from the inside.

Stick small Googly eyes to the top of the mouse.

Cut a small piece of wood to fit in the top of the mouse case, as shown in the photo, and glue it in place.

Attach the top of the mouse case to the bottom. Check that the car body will fit properly inside the mouse, on top of the wood.

The car body should not be glued to the wood, as there may need to be adjustments to its fit. Drill two thin holes in the top of the car body, for the small screws to hold the body to the wood. Hold the car body in place on the wood and mark the wood thru the holes. Drill pilot holes in the wood, for the screws.

Attach the car body to the wood, attach the chassis, and check that the front wheels are sticking out beyond the bottom part of the mouse case, so that all 4 wheels will touch the driving surface. I had to place thee layers of cardboard between the hood of the car and the top part of the mouse case.

Place batteries in the remote control and charge the car per its instructions.

Turn on the car and drive it.

The same remote-control idea could be applied to other objects, such as a stuffed toy, a beverage can, etc.

The side of a beverage can could be cut as shown in the photo, and the sharp edges covered by tape. The cut part would be bent to fit inside, and the car would be attached to the bent metal (before or after it is bent?).