Build It
Flash a light on this robot and it gets very agitated.
By Dave Prochnow Posted 10.29.2008 at 9:52 am 6 Comments

BOO! Bug Bot Dave Prochnow

Want to add some robots to your Halloween party plans? Even better, how about some robot "bugs" dancing around the candy bowl? Then Boo, the light-loving bug bot, might be for you.

Derived from Randy Sargent's LM386-based Herbie "photovore" robot, with some circuit enhancements supplied by Dave Hrynkiw and Mark Tilden, this bug robot can be easily built for less than ten bucks (or free if you have some spare parts in your workshop).

Self-contained within a discarded DB-9 serial hood, Boo waits passively until some bright light catches its eye. Then it's showtime. The illumination triggers a tiny vibrating motor embedded in this bot's abdomen, and it's off to the races. If the jig the bug dances is not your cup of tea, slip a rubber grommet over the hub of the motor's spinning weight to give Boo some cockroach speed.

TIME: 3 hours
COST: free (or, if you purchase all new parts: $8.49)
DIFFICULTY: easy

BOO! Bug Bot Parts:  Dave Prochnow

PARTS

STEPS

1. Build your bug bot according to the Hrynkiw and Tilden schematic without the "run away" relay circuit addition. Refer to their book, Junkbots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels for complete assembly instructions.

2. Glue the battery holder to the top of the DB-9 hood. Route the positive and negative terminals inside and connect them to the LM386.

3. Use the solder cups on the inside of the DB-9 male plug for attaching the resistors, positive and negative leads, and circuit wiring connections for pins 2 and 3 of the LM386 and the external CdS photocells.

BOO! Bug Bot Eyes:  Dave Prochnow

4. Connect one lead from the pager motor to pin 5 of the LM386 and the other motor lead to the negative terminal of the battery holder.

5. Assemble the DB-9 hood and mount the pager motor externally through one of the hood's machine screw connectors.

6. Plug the two CdS photocells in the appropriate pinouts of the DB-9 used in Step 3 for connecting pins 2 and 3 of the LM386.

7. Slip a battery into the battery holder and get ready to make this bot boogie. Shine a bright light on the CdS photocells of Boo and watch it dance the macabre writhe of a "spooky" bug bot.

Here's a quick video of the bug bot jitterbugging.

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6 Comments

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astra.v
10/30/08 at 3:26 am

I have a good Idea for a racing robot with minimal parts.
The idea is simple:
1. you need 4 motors like the one used here (4WD)
2. paperclip
3. 4 batteries (the weels)
4. wire
5. instant glue
Building:
1. glue the end of the motors two by two facing each other
2. connect one of the contacts of the motor to its metal body. first motor connect the (+) to the body and the other motor connect (-) to the body
3. do the same for the other pair of motors
4. solder at least 3 equal length wires from the body of the motor to the (-) of the battery , but the (+) contact facing the motor.
5. connect a wire from the unused contact of the motor to the (+) of the battery. It will start to rotate so you may put a peace of paper for insulation. until it is time to start it.
6. do the same with all 4 batteries
7. use the paperclip to glue the front and rear motors
8. remove all insulating papers at the same time and a four wheel drive car will go.

I will be very happy if someone build this :)

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njdevil
10/30/08 at 11:28 am

using a plug as the chassis is a neat idea.

I made something similar with a small battery, one tiny motor , a photoresistor and the head of an old electric toothbrush. the motor and battery actually came out of the electric toothbrush, so it was extremely cheap to make and when assembled it 'shivered' around the table like an epileptic centipede.

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macOSX
11/05/08 at 1:18 pm

cool

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rhino123321
01/22/09 at 7:56 pm

sweet

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romaniamac1
10/21/09 at 5:18 am

The video is awesome

Maxson
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