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Learn About the Adventure
Learn About the Adventure
Complete at least four of the following
Identify six tasks performed by robots.
Learn about some instances where a robot could be used in place of a human for work. Research one robot that does this type of work, and present what you learn to your den.
Build a robot hand. Show how it works like a human hand and how it is different from a human hand.
Build your own robot.
Visit a place that uses robots.
Tasks Performed by Robots
Tasks Performed by Robots
Robots are machines that do jobs so humans don’t have to. Those jobs usually fall into four categories: dangerous, dirty, dull, and difficult.
Dangerous
Robots often do jobs that are too dangerous for humans to perform. Robots can also go places humans can’t, like the bottom of the ocean or the surface of another planet. Law enforcement officers use robots to detonate or defuse bombs. NASA has sent several robots, called rovers, to Mars to study the planet’s climate and geology.
Dirty
There are also places humans can go but would rather avoid. For example, robots are used to inspect sewer pipes and storage tanks for cracks or clogs. That’s a stinky, dirty job for a human; but for a robot, it’s all in a day’s work.
Dull
Imagine spending your entire day screwing lids onto juice bottles. Robots are excellent at doing boring jobs quickly and easily. They can cap bottles, glaze doughnuts, paint cars, and even pick things up and move them around. You might even have a robot at home that vacuums the floors!
Difficult
Robots can also do tasks that humans find too complex or difficult. Some robots have the power to lift huge amounts of materials and transport them where they are needed. Other robots help doctors perform delicate surgeries. Some can even travel through your body taking pictures along the way so your doctor can see whether you have any illnesses or diseases.
Research:
What type of robot do you want to learn more about? Read books or watch quality videos about them and tell your family about it.
Places that Use Robots
Places that Use Robots
FARMING & RANCHING
WAREHOUSES
FACTORIES
TOYS
ENTERTAINMENT
Robot Hand
Robot Hand
Materials:
☐ 5 flexible straws, ☐ scissors, ☐ marker, ☐ 6 ft. of string/ yarn, ☐ tape
☐ Optional: wide tape like Duck or packing
Lay a piece of tape adhesive side up. You can use regular invisible tape or a wider tape like Duck or packing tape.
Set five straws in an even row next to each other on the adhesive side of the tape.
Press in and wrap the tape around the straws to secure them.
4. Bend one outside straw across the top of the other four. If you bend it to the right you will use your right hand in the next step. If you bend it to the left you will use your left hand.
5. Set your straw hand on top of your open palm with the thumb straw oriented correctly.
Tip: A larger hand may make cutting the knuckles easier, as they will be further apart.
6. Use a marker to mark where each knuckle is and the end of the fingers.
7. Snip off the ends (the fingertips).
8. To make the knuckles articulate, bend the straw to the side at each knuckle point and, on a diagonal from the center of the bent straw to the outside of the straw, snip off the corner. When you unbend and open it you should have a diamond shape facing forward
9. Put a small snip at the tip of each finger, facing forward, this will catch the string’s knot.
10. Knot the end of the string and drop it through the straw. When it comes out the opposite end slip it into the slit you made in Step 9. Repeat for all the fingers.
11. Optional: Secure the knots in the slits by wrapping tape around the top of the straws.
12. Pull the strings taut and knot them together at the bottom. Pull and your fingers should articulate!
13. If you have some knuckles that are not bending you may need to cut the diamond corners a little deeper.
Brushbots
Brushbots
So, here’s the cool thing about robots - once you have the right parts you can customize them pretty easily! We are going to give you the right parts and a suggested activity to make a BrushBot but feel free to customize it as you see fit. Fair warning, this is not the prettiest bot. But, what it is is one that your scout can be extremely hands-on in its construction design and redesign! Have fun!
What you can expect:
Learn about electricity and circuits
Engineer a structure that can withstand movement
Troubleshooting - does it move how you wanted? Can you make it do so? Is it moving at all? Are the wires connected correctly? Etc.
Fine motor skills - use those fingers!
Addressing safety concerns - make sure your battery packs are always switched off because exposed ends of wires can shock you and/or heat up and smoke.
Materials:
☐ AA Battery Pack with Switch,
☐ 2 AA Batteries,
☐ 1.5-3v motor,
☐ Cork,
☐ Bristle Brush,
☐ screwdriver,
☐ scissors,
☐ 5 rubber bands,
☐ 1 jumbo craft stick
Optional:
☐ Hot glue and gun or adhesive Velcro,
☐ wire stripper,
☐ electrical tape,
☐ soldering iron (in case your leads become disconnected)
Directions:
Build the Power: Put the batteries in the battery pack and seal. Twist the exposed wires of the battery pack to the exposed wire of the motor. Twist red with black.
If your wires are too long you can strip back the coating and make them shorter.
If you are only building once you can wrap some electrical tape around the exposed wires.
Test it by turning it on. The rotor (the rod sticking out ) on the motor should spin
Assemble the Sled: I put my battery pack and motor on a popsicle stick sled so they could be moved from robot to robot easily. If you are not planning on rebuilding you can simply affix them to the brush.
Set the battery pack on the popsicle stick even with the end of the stick. Set the motor in front of it. Mark on the popsicle stick at the end of the motor body. You want the rotor to be able to spin freely with nothing underneath it)
Trim the craft stick to size
Using the extra, if desired, trim a little piece to put under the motor body - if it needs evening up.
If your assembly is temporary use rubber bands or tape to affix the battery pack and motor to the popsicle stick. If permanent feel free to use hot glue or adhesive Velcro and affix it directly to the brush.
3. Weight: Press the cork onto the rotor. The rotor pictured here has a white threaded piece on it. Yours is a straight rod. It does not affect function just press the cork directly onto the rod.
4. The Bot: Put the sled on to the back of the brush and use two more rubber bands to hold it in place. Make sure the rotor is clear of the end of the brush.
5. Test: Flip the switch and set your bot down. It should start wiggling and skittering all over the place!
6. Tweak: Adjust where the weight is, add more, do whatever you would like to see if you can improve or change your bot.
Our first bot was top heavy. He would flip on his side and do some crazy breakdance spin moves. While fun, we upgraded to a larger brush with a bigger base and while he did not flip anymore he also moved completely differently
Optional Junk Materials for Extended Play: With the materials above and a little imagination you will be able to build a bot. However, if you want to go a bit further you can reuse those items and configure them to make even more fun bots! Below we’ll give you a suggested list of additional material that are not included in your bag but you can probably source from around your house. Plus, some links to inspire your next easy and fun bot.
Additional Optional Materials:
☐ large plastic lid (like from a soup container),
☐ Duct tape,
☐ more corks!,
☐ googly eyes,
☐ recyclables - plastic bottles, tp rolls, etc., old CD/ DVDs, dome shaped disposable drink lid, ping pong balls
Additional Resources:
Boogie Bots from BabbleDabbleDoo.com - https://bit.ly/2LgEF3u
JunkBots from Sciencebuddies.org - https://bit.ly/3bicwDC
WobbleBot from ResearchParent.com - https://researchparent.com/homemade-wobblebot/
Art Bot from Sciencebuddies.org - https://bit.ly/2WFc9Oh
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