And now for something completely different: ArtBots!

 

My first artbot came to life this week! Well, maybe not 100% fully as-anticipated alive, but sort-of Frankenstein-esque alive. 

 

 

I started with the intention of building an artbot able to handle different materials, be it pencils, markers or paint. My first reaction to this provocation was to build quick and simple arms w/ hands using alligator clips hot glued to wooden BBQ skewers.

Next was the body; choosing a cylindrical body of lightweight plastic (recycled takeaway container) allows for freedom in movement and reduces the amount of power needed to drive the artbot (b/c of less weight). The first idea to pop into my head after selecting the body was to use a motor to spin the artbot in circles. So, I set about making four wheel + axle combinations with plastic wheels, BBQ skewers and lots and lots of hot glue.

Once the four wheels + axles dried, I eagerly glued the first two wheels onto the artbot on opposite ends of the body. A small voice in the back of my head wondered how wheels with only one axis of rotation could spin an artbot in circles... but the first two wheels dried, and awesome, it moves! But also falls over, so onto stability!

A quick design process ensued to determine the best method of attaching the remaining two wheels that allows for a range of motion (preferably circular) while providing stability. My conclusion was to cut a hole in the body on both sides, push a small skewer through, and glue the wheel axles onto that skewer.

Tons of dried hot glue later I realized this may have not been the best method with only four wheels; the bot couldn't move without falling over. A quick solution to salvage my work was to glue the top skewers to the body. This eliminated the potential for circular motion, but allowed the artbot to stand and move forward or be steered in different directions.

I had conquered the artbot! Except, I forgot to incorporate the motor + transmission into the design. Whoops. At this point, the wheels consumed a good deal of time and were decisively hot glued onto the axles; aka no easy way to attach a motor and gear system with available materials (mostly rubber bands) without creating new wheel/axle combos and re-gluing to a new body. The next best possible solution (aka quickest and easiest) was to use a propeller. Attaching the motor + propeller and a 12 V battery to the top of the body eventually did the trick! A simple switch built out of a paperclip allows the user to turn the artbot on and off (although the other motor/battery terminal connection is less than perfect, so an alligator clip is also used to create a better connection and act as a switch).

I'm pretty sure this artbot should come with a warning b/c of the furious propeller.. but the process was an ideal lesson in how the first design/concept rarely makes it to the final stage. In the end, it was awesome to see how it turned out, + many ideas for creating a better one next time!