Build a BristleBot to clean up your apartment


If you are like me, you hate to sweep and are too poor to buy a "Roomba". This BristleBot project by 11th grade programming wiz, Erin Kennedy, is a pretty simple way of getting some basic cleaning done and watching the bot scuttle around on the kitchen floor is pretty fun too.

Bristlebot @ RobotGrrl


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Harish on March 29, 2008 at 11:07 AM

Is it me or is this thing about the size of a watch battery?


Posted by: PattiS on March 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM

Go Erin! Awesome. :)


Posted by: BigD145 on March 29, 2008 at 12:54 PM

It's going to take a lot of batteries to clean that floor. You'll still have to sweep up the dust.


Posted by: Anonymous on March 29, 2008 at 5:33 PM

Simply awesome. I'm not sure if it can clean my kitchen floor, but my cats will surely love it :)


Posted by: Juan Garcia on March 29, 2008 at 7:43 PM

I wonder if bristle-bots like this could be enhanced with micro-controlled oscillation patterns (possibly needing additional motors as well) to facilitate RF/IR/bluetooth/fill-in-the-blank-communication remote steering and speed control. Or does a notion like that defeat the simple elegance of a vibro-bot?


Posted by: Del on March 30, 2008 at 5:31 PM

Isn't that a Dougall? From Neil A. Downie's "Vacuum Bazookas, etc" book? Well done though, and looks like it really moves!


Posted by: Anonymous on March 30, 2008 at 8:57 PM

I like the groovy soundtrack that it makes with only the tiny battery and a motor...


Posted by: Paul on March 30, 2008 at 9:51 PM

Great

Wow, this is so cool.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television
MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan


Check out all of the episodes of Make: television

Make: Science Room

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter

    MAKE's RSS feed is here.
    Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
    How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
    Add MAKE on FriendFeed




    Maker SHED

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Senior Editor


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Making Char Cloth Learn how to make a cheap and effective fire starter made from an old t-shirt. To download The Char Cloth video click here and subscribe in iTunes. See Char Cloth in action with the Fire Piston from William Gurstelle.... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education

    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog