Solar Slider
15-30 min
Ages 8-13
What Will You Learn?
Learn how solar energy works as you make a simple solar vibrobot. A vibrobot is a tiny robot powered by a vibrating motor, like the type found in cell phones. Typically they are powered by a coin cell battery, but here we will use a solar cell instead. Learn more about solar panels.
This project is an extension of the Circuit Scouts Kit, available in the Maker Shed. There are also a guidebook and online educator’s curriculum available for free.
Build Your Solar Slider
Assemble your slider
Color your robot template as desired. Cut along the solid lines.
Assemble the solar circuit. (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4)
Stick the disc motor to the underside of the solar panel.
Use Maker Tape to connect red wire to the silver pad marked with a plus (+) sign.Â
Connect the blue wire to the silver pad marked with a negative (-) sign.
Add foam tape to the underside of the solar panel.
Attach the panel to the front of the robot template.Â
Expose the panel to sunlight.
What Next?
Don’t have solar panel? Try hacking one from an old outdoor solar light. Or substitute a coin cell battery instead.
This vibrobot may experience a lot of friction between the paper and the surface it’s on. That will slow your slider’s movement. How can you reduce that friction? Try using drinking straws, paperclips, bottle caps or buttons to reduce the friction and make the solar slider move more.
Ready to build a more complicated vibrobot? Try this Solar Roach project!
Materials:
