Directional Vibrobot Known as Bristlebot

This simple and tiny robot is controlled by a single vibrating motor while using a single toothbrush, a battery, and a pager motor.

The toothbrush is the starting point of the design which requires one with more or less uniformly angled bristles. Only a neat little robotics platform is left by cutting off the handle of the toothbrush. A vibrating pager motor is needed or other tiny motor with an unbalanced output shaft. The type used in this project runs on almost any common voltage ranging from 1-9V, which makes an alkaline or lithium coin cell or watch battery with 1.5V to 3V as alternative power sources. Short copper wire leads were soldered to the motor terminals to attach the motor to the battery.

The motor will be held in place by applying a small piece of foam tape to the top of the toothbrush robotic platform. The motor is attached to the foam tape which provides a spacer so that the toothbrush will not be hit by the rotating weight. The severe vibration that this robot will experience can be handled because of a strong, flexible connection to the base.

Rest of the project