Introduction: Simple Leaping Robot Frog
This is one of the simplest robot that can be built by any young makers requiring only household materials, DC motor, and batteries, with no coding needed! This simple robot will leap and jump like a frog!
My goal is to design and make a robot that is fun and simple for kids to build with their parents, even if they have any no prior robotics experience. In addition, it costs less than $10!
Step 1: BoM
- DC motor
- 4 AA batteries
- Battery Holder
- Popsicle Sticks
- Pop Can
- Glue gun
- X-acto knife
Step 2: Cut Off the Bottom
- Cut off the bottom of the pop can with an X-Acto knife. Be careful when cutting, since cut aluminum is sharp.
- This will create an opening so we can cut the rest of the can with ease using scissors.
Step 3: Cut Off Strips
- Cut off four strips of aluminum about 2cm thick for each piece.
- This will be the base structure for the legs of the frog.
Step 4: Form a Circle
- Form it into a circle and tape it where the two ends meet.
- Make one of the circular pieces ever so slightly smaller than the other so that it can fit inside.
- Fit the smaller one inside the larger piece and tape it together. This will add a lot of structural integrity to the frog legs.
Step 5: Making the Supports
- Cut two pieces of popsicle sticks of same length as the diameter of the circular aluminum frog 'legs.'
Step 6: Gluing the Supports
- Glue the supports to the tip of the motor on both sides (away from the rotating portion) with hot glue.
- Between the two supports, glue a bracing by cutting a small piece of popsicle stick and gluing it in between the two supports with a hot glue gun. Since my popsicle sticks had notches, I inserted it in-between the two notches, then glued it there.
Step 7: Glue the Legs
- Glue both of the circular aluminum rings onto the motor shaft on both sides with the hot glue gun.
- Hold it in place until it is done.
Step 8: Securing the Battery Holder
- Tape the batteries in place to the battery holder so they don't move around.
- Leave one battery out of the battery holder to keep an open circuit.
- Glue the bottom of the battery holder to the top-side of the dc motor.
Step 9: Connecting the Battery
- Connect the two wires from the battery holder to the DC motor, make sure that you only have 3 out of the 4 batteries plugged in so it won't turn on.
- Twist the wires to the holes on the DC motor to secure it.
- Further secure it by adding a bead of hot glue and letting it dry.
Step 10: Done!
- Plug in the remaining battery and let it run / leap!