May Engineering Activity: Bristlebots

Bristlebots are an easy, and fun project to do using the head of a toothbrush, a battery, and a small motor. Once completed, they buzz along the top of a table! In this activity, we’re going to build one Bristlebot with straight bristles and one with slanted bristles and race them to see which is faster!

What other type of robots do you think you can make with a small vibrating motor and a battery? Experiment with shapes and materials and see what you can come up with!

SWE Blog provides up-to-date information and news about the Society and how our members are making a difference every day. You’ll find stories about SWE members, engineering, technology, and other STEM-related topics.

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Heather Sheridan P.E., PMP is a Civil Engineer and Project Manager at Black & Veatch in the Hydropower Department. Heather has a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis with a focus on hydraulic structures and environmental design.

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