DIY Easy Robotic Car for Kids | Micro:Bit Powered STEAM Project
Robot Building Overview
Tools:
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Screwdriver
- Nuts and bolts
- Rubber bands
Electronics:
- BBC Micro:Bit
- Micro:Bit adapter
- 2 x 360deg micro servo (3,3V compatible)
Building time:
45 min
Difficulty:
Medium
Robot info
EASY CAR is designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind. This project is perfect for students 10-15 years old who want to explore robotics and STEAM concepts. You will learn how to cut and assemble the cardboard parts and how to connect the servo motors to the Micro:Bit. So grab your materials and let’s get started!
Building a two-wheeled rover is a great project for a robotics class and allows for a lot of funny activities such as car racing tournaments, SUMO fights or path programming.
You can program it to control remotely form LOFI Control App
Robot building manual
Robot design plan
How to read robot plans:
- BLACK LINES – cut this line first
- RED LINES – detailed shapes cut after the black lines
- BLUE DASHED LINES – bending lines traced with scissors
PRO-TIP!
Make the chassis of the car from on-layer cardboard and wheels from a thicker 2-layered cardboard.
Remote control
Code for bluetooth control
Class activities you can do with a robotic car
- Driving over a path – your students have to code a movement sequence to make the robot drive along a simple path (no more than two or three bends), because servo motors are not precise make it simple like an L shape
- Football match – when you have remote control you can play a football game with robots passing on a ball made of a folded paper. The game is going to be so chaotic that do not try to set up teams – every robot plays for itself
- Sumo fights – make some space for a sumo fighting ring, a circle of about 1m diameter will be ok, robots fight in pairs and have to puch the oponent out of the ring.
Improve your classroom experience
Printable Robot Templates
Downloadable PDF file with vector-based printable designs of all our robots in A4 format.
Micro:Bit Robotics – Video course
Get a practical insight how to use BBC Micro:Bit in the classroom. Learn how to code cardboard robots with useful lesson ideas.
Cardboard Robots Inventor Kit
If you need a complete kit with all the tools and electronics to build Cardboard Robots consider buying our kit :-)
Robot Stencils
Set of reusable robot stencils to help your students build cardboard robots faster and easier.
