Let's Engineer a Robot!
Build a simple motorized robot (bristlebot) using a toothbrush head, small motor, battery, and craft materials to explore motion and circuits.
Step-by-step guide to build a motorized bristlebot
Step 1
Find a clean flat workspace and lay out your materials so everything is easy to reach.
Step 2
Ask an adult to cut off the toothbrush handle so you have just the toothbrush head to use.
Step 3
Put a small piece of double-sided tape on the flat top of the toothbrush head.
Step 4
Press the vibration motor onto the tape with the off-center weight near the edge above the bristles.
Step 5
Hold the coin cell battery against the motor contacts to see if the motor vibrates and works.
Step 6
Use a small piece of clear tape to hold the battery flat on top of the motor so both motor contacts stay touching the battery.
Step 7
Set your bristlebot down on a smooth flat surface with the bristles touching the table.
Step 8
Watch how it moves and gently adjust one or two bristles by bending or ask an adult to trim a tiny bit to change its direction.
Step 9
Decorate your bristlebot using colouring materials and craft decorations to give it a fun personality.
Step 10
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a toothbrush head, double-sided tape, or a coin cell battery?
If you can't find a toothbrush head or double-sided tape, ask an adult to cut off the head of a disposable electric toothbrush and attach the vibration motor with a glue dot or sticky foam mounting square, and substitute a CR2032 coin cell in place of the battery you were going to use.
My bristlebot won't move when I hold the battery to the motor—what should I check?
If the motor doesn't vibrate when you hold the coin cell battery against the motor contacts, flip the battery, wipe the motor contacts clean, and press the battery flat and secure it with the clear tape so both motor contacts stay touching the battery.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older children?
For preschoolers, have an adult do the step to cut off the toothbrush handle and stick the motor and battery down so they can focus on bending bristles and decorating, while older kids can solder a battery holder, trim bristles themselves to change direction, or experiment with different motor placements.
How can we extend or personalize the bristlebot after the basic build?
To enhance your bristlebot, decorate it with googly eyes and a lightweight bottle-cap shell, tweak one or two bristles or trim tiny bits to improve steering, or tape on a second vibration motor for increased speed.
Watch videos on how to build a motorized bristlebot
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Facts about basic robotics and electrical circuits
⚡ Tiny vibration motors (like the ones in phones) can spin at thousands of RPMs, enough to make small robots wiggle across a surface.
🪥 A typical toothbrush head has thousands of bristles — perfect tiny 'legs' for a bristlebot to shimmy on!
🔋 Coin (button) cell batteries can power a bristlebot for minutes to hours depending on motor size and load.
🧲 Electric motors use magnetic fields to turn electricity into motion — that’s how your bristlebot gets its wiggle!
🤖 You can build a working bristlebot with just a toothbrush head, a small motor, and a battery — no soldering needed!
How do you build a simple motorized bristlebot robot?
What materials do I need to make a bristlebot?
What ages is this bristlebot activity suitable for?
What safety tips and fun variations can we try with bristlebot robots?
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