Guide

 November 14, 2024

 Education
The integration of robotics into education has become more than just a trend—it’s a necessity.
Teaching robotics in primary schools is not only about preparing students for future careers
in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) but also about fostering essential
skills like problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork from an early age. This complete guide explores
the importance, benefits, and practical steps for introducing robotics into primary education.

Table of Contents
 Why Robotics Matters in Early Education
 Global Trends in Robotics Education
 How to Implement Robotics in Primary Schools
o Choosing the Right Robotics Kit
o Developing a Curriculum
o Teacher Training and Resources
 Overcoming Challenges in Teaching Robotics
o Addressing Common Obstacles
o Strategies for Success
 The Impact of Robotics on Student Development
o Cognitive and Emotional Growth
o Social and Collaborative Skills
 The Future of Robotics in Primary Education
o The Role of Robotics in Shaping Future Generations
o Innovations on the Horizon
 Transform Your Classroom with Robotics!

Why Robotics Matters in Early Education

Robotics isn’t just about assembling machines or programming software; it’s a comprehensive
educational tool that touches various aspects of learning. By introducing robotics in primary schools,
educators can:

 Enhance Problem-Solving Skills: Robotics challenges students to think critically and find
solutions to complex problems. This hands-on approach helps develop logical thinking and the
ability to tackle real-world issues.
 Encourage Creativity: Robotics allows children to bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s building
a robot or programming it to perform specific tasks, students learn to think outside the box and
innovate.
 Foster Teamwork: Robotics projects often require collaboration, encouraging students to work
together, share ideas, and develop social skills.
  Prepare for Future Careers: With the growing importance of technology in various industries,
introducing robotics at an early age gives students a head start in STEM fields.

Global Trends in Robotics Education

Around the world, there has been a significant push towards integrating robotics into the primary
school curriculum. Countries like the United States, Finland, and South Korea have made substantial
investments in this area, recognizing the long-term benefits of equipping students with these skills. In
Saudi Arabia, the Vision 2030 initiative emphasizes the importance of modernizing education, making
robotics a key component of the curriculum.

How to Implement Robotics in Primary Schools

Choosing the Right Robotics Kit
Selecting the appropriate robotics kit is crucial for ensuring that the learning process is both
educational and enjoyable for students. Here are some popular options:

 LEGO Education WeDo 2.0: Ideal for younger students, this kit is user-friendly and allows
children to build simple robots while learning basic programming skills.
 VEX Robotics: Suitable for more advanced primary school students, VEX Robotics offers a
range of kits that can grow with the student’s skill level.
 Dobot Magician: This kit offers a more complex learning experience, including 3D printing and
laser engraving, making it suitable for older primary school students.

Developing a Curriculum
Creating a well-structured curriculum is essential for successful robotics education. The curriculum
should be aligned with the students’ age and skill level and should include:

 Introduction to Robotics: Start with the basics, including an overview of what robotics is and its
applications in the real world.
 Hands-on Projects: Encourage students to build simple robots, gradually increasing the
complexity as they become more comfortable with the concepts.
 Programming Basics: Introduce students to block-based programming languages like Scratch,
which are easy to understand and use.
 Real-World Applications: Demonstrate how robotics is used in various industries, such as
healthcare, manufacturing, and space exploration, to inspire students.

Teacher Training and Resources

For robotics education to be effective, teachers need to be well-equipped with the necessary skills
and knowledge. Schools should invest in:
  Professional Development: Offer training programs and workshops for teachers to learn the
basics of robotics and how to integrate it into their teaching.
 Online Resources: Provide access to online platforms and communities where teachers can
find lesson plans, tutorials, and support.
 Collaboration with Experts: Partner with local universities, tech companies, or robotics clubs to
bring in experts who can provide additional insights and support.

Overcoming Challenges in Teaching Robotics

Addressing Common Obstacles
While the benefits of teaching robotics in primary schools are clear, there are challenges that
educators may face, including:

 Cost of Equipment: Robotics kits and resources can be expensive. Schools can overcome this
by seeking grants, donations, or partnerships with tech companies.
 Lack of Teacher Expertise: Not all teachers have a background in technology or engineering.
Continuous professional development and support from experts can help bridge this gap.
 Student Engagement: Some students may find robotics challenging or intimidating. Teachers
should focus on making the learning process fun and interactive, using games and
competitions to spark interest.

Strategies for Success

To ensure a successful robotics program, consider the following strategies:

 Start Small: Begin with simple projects and gradually increase the complexity as students
become more confident.
 Incorporate Robotics into Other Subjects: Integrate robotics into subjects like math, science,
and art to show its relevance across the curriculum.
 Encourage Participation in Competitions: Robotics competitions, like the First LEGO League or
VEX Robotics Competition, can motivate students to excel and provide opportunities for
practical learning.
 Engage Parents: Involve parents by organizing workshops or demonstrations where students
can showcase their projects. This not only builds enthusiasm but also helps secure support for
the program.

The Impact of Robotics on Student Development

Cognitive and Emotional Growth
Teaching robotics in primary schools goes beyond academic achievement. It plays a significant role
in the cognitive and emotional development of students by:
  Enhancing Logical Thinking: Robotics requires students to follow logical steps and processes,
strengthening their ability to think analytically.
 Building Confidence: Successfully building and programming a robot gives students a sense of
accomplishment and boosts their confidence.
 Encouraging Persistence: Robotics projects often involve trial and error. Students learn the
value of persistence and resilience as they work through challenges.

Social and Collaborative Skills

Robotics education also promotes social and collaborative skills:

 Teamwork and Communication: Working in groups to complete robotics projects teaches

students the importance of teamwork and effective communication.
 Leadership: Students often take on different roles within a team, providing opportunities to
develop leadership skills.
 Cultural Awareness: In a diverse classroom, robotics projects can bring students from different
backgrounds together, fostering a sense of unity and cultural understanding.

The Future of Robotics in Primary Education

The Role of Robotics in Shaping Future Generations
As we move further into the 21st century, the role of robotics in education will only become more
critical. By teaching robotics in primary schools, we are not just preparing students for future careers;
we are equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Innovations on the Horizon

The field of educational robotics is constantly evolving. Some of the exciting innovations we can
expect to see in the coming years include:

 AI-Powered Robots: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into educational robots will
provide more personalized learning experiences, adapting to each student’s learning pace and
style.
 Virtual and Augmented Reality: Combining robotics with virtual and augmented reality will
create immersive learning environments where students can explore complex concepts in a
hands-on manner.
 Robotics as a Service (RaaS): Schools may soon have access to Robotics as a Service
models, where they can lease or subscribe to robotics platforms, making it more affordable
and accessible.

Transform Your Classroom with Robotics!

 At Proven Robotics, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to explore the exciting world
of robotics. Our cutting-edge robotics education programs in Saudi Arabia are designed to inspire and
engage students, providing them with the tools they need to succeed in a technology-driven future.

Whether you’re looking to introduce robotics into your classroom or elevate your existing curriculum,
we offer a range of educational robots like Pepper, NAO, and DOBOT that are perfect for primary
school students. These innovative robots make learning fun and interactive, helping students develop
essential skills like problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

Don’t miss out on the chance to bring the future into your classroom! Contact Proven Robotics
today to learn more about our robotics education programs and find the perfect robot for your school.

This story starts on October of 2022, when I volunteered to be mentor of Bahadir,

an amazing Grade 5 kid, who required personalized STEAM lessons once per
week. Inspired by the Superhero Cyborgs project by Autodesk and KidMob, my
intention was to train him in the basics of robotics and bionics, so in the future he
can create his own solutions. Every week we developed a new project; and I
chose the best four of them to create a tutorial in basic robotics, so educators
around the world can easily recreate these toys.

Every project had the following constraints:

 User-centered: materials, tools and processes had to consider student's

anatomical features, so he can build safely, but without sacrificing independent
work and taking creative risks.
 Resources availability: materials had to be affordable and easy to obtain
locally.
 Environmentally friendly: most of the materials must be biodegradable,
reusable, or at least, repurposed (upcycled).
 Time restrictions: we only had 40 minutes to complete each project.
 KISS (Keep It Short and Simple): projects had to be easy to build and repair. In
case of a broken part or dead batteries, they must be easy to replace, to extend
the life time of the product.
 Wow factor: awesome and fun projects increase student's confidence and
interest for engineering and technology.

These activities are intended to be completed by the student. However, every

time you see a phrase in cursive like this:

"TEACHER STEP: Use a small flat screwdriver to open a hole on one side of the
rubber washer."

That's an activity that must be, for safety reasons, executed by an adult
(educator, parent or guardian.)

(NOTE: Parents and kid approved the publication of photos and videos where he
appears.)

Supplies
I will enumerate the required materials and tools when I start describing each
project. However, if you want to have a basic robotics workshop at school, there
 are five basic electric components you need to have; and you can use reuse
them constantly:

 Hobby motors (like this one): very affordable, easy to get from broken toys;
great for vibrobots, brushbots, boats, and simple applications that require a lot of
speed but little torque.
 Gearbox, or Gear Motor Dual Shaft (like this one): great for robots that require
torque, like walking machines, all-terrain rovers, jumping robots, grabbers, basic
animatronics and launchers. If you have been following my projects, probably
you already know that this is my favorite component for creating toys.
 2 X 1.5V AA Battery Holder, with switch (like this one): it's great for smaller
kids, or when you have a very limited lesson time to build your robot. You just
need to connect it to the wires to the pins of the motor, and you have your
electric circuit ready.
 9V Battery Clip Connector (like this one): for connecting 9V battery to your
project. I recommend to get the hard plastic ones instead of the leather ones, so
you can reuse them more times; and also are useful as a makeshift switch.
 SPST On/Off Mini Toggle Switch (like this one, similar or smaller): very
practical to use with the 9V battery clip.

For most of the projects, I'm using disposable utensils (forks and spoons). Try to
use compostable, because they are not only ecofriendly, but also very sturdy;
demonstrating more resistance to drilling and bending than the traditional plastic
ones. These ones look like a good option; however it's up to you to test their
resistance before the projects.

For drilling holes, you can use a small flat screwdriver, or some pointy scissors.
Even you can try a Hand Drill for jewelry. My weapon of choice is my old
Leatherman Juice S2 Multitool. Its small screwdriver is amazing for drilling holes,
and I use it often when I need to perforate plastic caps for STEAM projects.

Step 1: Bot 1 - Vi-bro

Vibrobots (like brush-bots, bristle-bots and sketch-bots) are the traditional first
step in robotics. Affordable to build, simple to create, fun to watch in action. It's
the perfect project to test the capabilities of a pupil!

You can create vibrobots even using parts from broken toys. However, if you
want to create vibrobots for several students, you will need part of your budget to
buy some plastic parts, like brushes (for brush-bots), toothbrushes (bristle-bots)
or markers (sketchbot). So I decided to use materials that are abundant at
school: paper cups and spoons.

But this vibro-bot has a twist: my students discovered that it's great to give
massages! They like to put it over their heads and activate it. For the record: this
is not a therapeutical device, I always limit the exposition time to a couple of
seconds, and it's not recommendable to do it to people with any kind of
neurological condition. However, kids are always happy with the "brain
scrambler", and they prefer to play with it that way than watching it dance. So,
why not?

Step 2: (Bot 1) Materials

 2 paper cups (for coffee or water)
 4 disposable spoons
 1 rubber washer (you can get it in any hardware store)
 1 1.5V AA Battery Holder, with switch
 1 motor
 2 AA batteries
 1 Mounting tape (double sided tape, thick)
 Googly eyes
 Color markers (for decoration)
 Hot glue gun
 Scissors

Step 3: (Bot 1) Preparing the Motor

TEACHER STEP: Use a small flat screwdriver to open a hole on one side of the
rubber washer.

Insert the axle of the motor through the hole you opened in the rubber washer.

Add a square of mounting tape on the side of the motor opposite to the one with
the electrical pins.

Step 4: (Bot 1) Body

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Take the two paper cups and the four spoons. Place the handle of the spoons
inside one of the cups, checking that there is an equal distance between them.
Then, insert the second cup, so the spoons are retained there by pressure.

Once you are happy with the exact position of the spoons, add a little bit of hot
glue in the points where the spoons are in contact with the two cups, to keep
them in place

Step 5: (Bot 1) Attaching the Motor

Remove the protective peel from the mounting tape, and stick the motor on top of
the cup, being careful that the rubber washer is not in contact with the body of
the robot.

Step 6: (Bot 1) Battery Holder

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Take the battery holder. Add a rectangle of mounting tape over the side near the
switch (be careful of not covering it).

Insert the batteries, being careful that the polarity is correct. Then close the
battery holder, remove the protective peel from the mounting tape, and then stick
it inside the body of the robot, checking that the switch is visible and accessible.

Step 7: (Bot 1) Connecting the Cables

Take the cables from the battery holder, and connect each one to each pin of the
motor

Step 8: (Bot 1) Improvements and Final Questions

 Add googly eyes, paint a mouth, decorate your Vi-Bro as you prefer!

It's a good time for a discussion about technology. Ask this question:

What other everyday technological devices use vibrations generated by a

motor spinning an unbalance weight?

Answers:

 Joysticks and game controllers have inner motors to create vibrations that
simulate being impacted by an enemy or explosion during the game.
 Cellphones have a tiny motor inside that creates the vibration when your phone
is in silent mode.

Step 9: Bot 2 - Spoon Dogg

The name "Spoon Dogg" was inspired by the robo-dogs from Boston Dynamics,
being their most remarkable feature that they can stand on their own every time
they fall or they are kicked down. Also, this small bot uses spoons as way of
locomotion. So... Spoon Dogg!
This robot was inspired some Simple Bots by Randy Sarafan. The idea was to
create a bot that could move in a fun way but using only one motor; react to its
environment without needing any sensor, and be easy to build without using
power tools.

The result? A little cute robot made from an ice cream cup. Enjoy!

Step 10: (Bot 2) Materials

 1 small ice cream plastic cup with lid, or similar (you can also try with a small tin
can)
 2 disposable spoons
 1 Gearbox (Gear Motor Dual Shaft)
 9V Battery Clip Connector
 SPST On/Off Mini Toggle Switch
 1 9V battery
 1 extra wire
 Hard plastic straw (like the one for party balloons). Note: the axle of the gearbox
must fit tightly inside the straw.
 1 round bamboo stick (like the ones for shish kebab, or for chopsticks). Note: the
bamboo stick must fit a little loose inside the straw.
 Optional: 2 hard plastic tubes (like the ones from pens) that can be attached to
the gearbox's axle. If you can get this component, you don't need the bamboo
stick and the plastic straw.
 2 zip-ties
 1 Mounting tape (double sided tape, thick)
 1 Craft stick
 Googly eyes
 Color markers (for decoration)
 Hot glue gun
 Scissors
 Small screwdriver (for drilling one hole)
 Pliers

Step 11: (Bot 2) Body and "Foot"

Take the ice cream cup and stick a piece of mounting tape on the bottom.
Then, remove the peel, and stick a craft stick in the middle.

Step 12: (Bot 2) Lid and Gearmotor

Drill a small hole in the ice cream cup's lid, big enough for the two cables of the
battery clip to pass through.

Then, using mounting tape, stick the gearmotor to the upper part of the lid, with
the motor pins near the hole you drilled.

Step 13: (Bot 2) Electrical Circuit

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Stick a little piece of mounting tape on top of the gearbox. This will be great to
stick the switch to the robot.

Bring the battery clip, and insert the wires through the hole in the lid, from the
bottom to the top.

Connect the black wire to one of the pins of the motor. Connect the red wire to
the center pin of the switch. Then, connect a third wire (white) from the available
pin of the switch, to the available pin of the motor.

Then, stick the switch to the mounting tape on top of the gearbox.

Step 14: (Bot 2) Battery and Closing the Body

Connect the 9V battery to the battery clip. Then, put the lid on the ice cream cup.
Step 15: (Bot 2) "Shoulder" Axles
 3 More Images
Bring the plastic straws and the bamboo sticks. Cut the straws into two 6 cm
segments, and the sticks into 5 cm segments. Attach the straw segments to each
end of the gearbox's axle. Insert the sticks segments into each straw. For a better
attachment, your can glue the segments to the axles using hot glue inside the
straw, as long as it doesn't jam the gearbox mechanism.

Step 16: (Bot 2) Attaching the Spoons

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Attach a spoon to each straw segment, using a zip-tie. The most practical way to
do it is creating a loop with the zip-tie. You can pass the spoon from below, then
pass over the straw segment, then go down through the loop.

Tighten the zip-tie as much as possible, avoiding to break any of the

components. Now you can appreciate that the main function of the bamboo stick
is to protect the straw from getting broken after so much stress.

Step 17: (Bot 2) Improvements and Final Questions

You will need to experiment with the position of the spoons, until you achieve the
perfect movement. This will depend of the dimensions of the ice cream cup, and
how long are the spoons when they touch the ground.

You can also experiment with cutting the front segment of the craft stick, to check
if it improves balance.

Add googly eyes, and paint some details.

Challenge your students with this question:

How can we improve the movement and stability of our robot?

Answer: Spoons that are too short will generate a discreet (and boring)
locomotion. Spoons that are too long will cause the bot to move in a very crazy
way. The perfect point is when the robot can move forward, and when it hits an
obstacle, falls and recovers again. We need to keep doing trial and error, until we
find the perfect configuration.

Step 18: Bot 3 - Cyborg Claw

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When you explore internet in search of good STEAM projects about prosthetics,
usually you find or very basic ones, where you need all your fingers pulling
strings to move a cardboard hand; or very complex ones, where you need to
apply concepts of CAD, 3D printing and Arduino.

I wanted to create a very simple cyborg claw, where concepts of mechatronics

could be explored, without requiring advance knowledge or expensive materials,
and with a grip enough to grab and lift some basic objects. The result: a fun
prototype activated with just pressing a switch; with the potential of being
improved by students using their imagination.

Step 19: (Bot 3) Materials

 2 flat plastic pieces from a heavy duty magnetic catch for cabinet (like this one, or
this one)
 2 screen frame corners (this one has premade holes, so it will save you
preparation time. However, try to pick a sturdy one that doesn't get broken easily)
 1 rubber hair curler (like this one)
 1 long flat bamboo stick (for shish kebab)
 1 Gearbox (Gear Motor Dual Shaft)
 9V Battery Clip Connector
 1 9V battery
 1 lever micro switch (like this one)
 Extra wires
 1 long bolt
 1 short bolt
 7 nuts
 1 Mounting tape (double sided tape, thick)
 1 rubber band
 Hot glue gun
 Optional: Super Glue (cyanoacrylate)
 Scissors
 Small screwdriver (for drilling holes)
 Pliers
 10 zip-ties (9 small, 1 big)

Step 20: (Bot 3) the Gearbox

 3 More Images
TEACHER STEP: Before lesson, carefully remove the metal plate from the flat
plastic pieces. You can use pliers or a drill to destroy the rivet. Also, check if the
axles of the gearbox fit in the plastic pieces holes. If not, use some tool, like a
screwdriver or scissors, to enlarge the hole.

Take the flat plastic pieces. Attach one plastic piece on each axle of the gearbox.

Step 21: (Bot 3) Lock for the Rubber Band

Bring the short bolt. Screw a nut until the middle. Then insert the bolt, and screw
another nut to keep the bolt in place.

Step 22: (Bot 3) Fingers

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TEACHER STEP: if your frame corners don't have a hole in one of the ends,
open it using some pointy scissors, a small flat screwdriver, or any other
available tool at hand.

Take the long bolt, the remaining nuts and the two frame corners. Insert the bolt
through the hole of the corner frame. Then insert the bolt through the hole in the
center of one of the flat plastic pieces, screw two nuts to keep the frame corners
tight and the flat plastic pieces parallel to each other, and then insert the bolt into
the opposite flat plastic piece. Then add the second frame corner, and screw the
last nut.

Use zip-ties to firmly attach the frame corners to their respective flat plastic
pieces.

Step 23: (Bot 3) Thumb

 5 More Images
Take the hair curler and remove the wire using the pliers (don't throw it, we will
need it for our next project).

Cut a rubber segment of 5 cm approximately. Insert the tip of the flat bamboo
stick through its hole.

If it's hard to insert, use some sand paper to slightly sharpen the end of the
stick. TEACHER STEP: you can also use the cutting part of the pliers, but be
careful with splinters projection, or with possible bruises.

Step 24: (Bot 3) Attaching the Thumb

 3 More Images
Stick a segment of mounting tape to the top part of the gearbox. Peel it, and stick
the bamboo stick in a way that is opposite to the "fingers" attached to the
gearbox.

Use small zip-ties to complete the attachment of the gearbox to the stick.

Step 25: (Bot 3) Attaching the Rubber Band

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Bring the rubber band and another zip-tie. Tie the rubber band to the small bolt in
the claw, using a Lark's head (cow hitch) knot. Attach the opposite arc of the
rubber band to the stick, using the zip-tie; leaving a distance of approximately 4
cm between motor and zip-tie (distance may vary, depending of the rubber band
size and flexibility.)

Cut the remanent of the zip-tie.

Step 26: (Bot 3) Electrical Circuit

 6 More Images
Bring the 9V battery, the battery clip, and the switch.

Connect the red cable of the clip to one of the pins of the motor, and the black
cable to the center pin of the switch (marked with the number 3 in several
models).

Connect an extra cable from the first pin of the switch (number 1, under the
button of the switch), to the available pin of the motor.

Connect the battery, and test that the claw closes when the switch is pressed,
and returns to its original position when the switch is released. If it doesn't work
this way, invert the polarity, swapping the position of the cables connected to the
motor. Also, check that the rubber band is not too tense, or too loose.

After checking that everything works, stick a piece of mounting tape to the
battery, place it in an available part of the stick, and reinforce the adhesion with
the big zip-tie.
Step 27: (Bot 3) Switch and Handle
 2 More Images
Add a little piece of mounting tape to one of the sides of the switch, and stick it to
the stick. Improve the attachment using a small zip-tie.

Add a 10 cm segment of the rubber roller, to the available end of the stick. Test
that you can grab the cyborg claw using your hand, and that you can press the
switch without problems.

Step 28: (Bot 3) Improvements and Questions

Challenge your students with the following questions, so they can improve their
Cyborg Claw at home:

How can we improve the grip of our robot claw?

Answer: you can add some rubber (fingertips from rubber gloves, rubber bands,
silicon, Sugru) to the tips of plastic fingers.

How can we improve the ergonomics and functionality of our robot claw?

Answer: you can replace the foamy handle for an attachment that can be fixed to
your hand or arm, using belts, cardboard, or even a repurposed watch. The
switch could also be located in one of your fingers, so it can be easily pressed to
activate the claw.

Step 29: Bot 4 - Fork Knight

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For this project, we will explore the concepts of Reuse and Upcycling. Using
plastic trash that may be found at home, we created a rolling bot that moves its
arms.

Step 30: (Bot 4) Materials

 1 small plastic or metal container, like a coffee can or a candy box (a box made
from sturdy cardboard can be used)
 2 disposable forks
 1 Gearbox (Gear Motor Dual Shaft)
 1 1.5V AA Battery Holder, with switch
 2 AA batteries
 Hard plastic straw (like the one for party balloons). Note: the axle of the gearbox
must fit tightly inside the straw.
 1 round bamboo stick (like the ones for shish kebab, or for chopsticks). Note: the
bamboo stick must fit a little loose inside the straw.
 2 round containers for dental floss (or any other cylindrical piece that can be
attached to the straw)
 2 hair gel lids, where the dental floss containers can fit inside.
 2 screws for aluminum (with a round large head)
 2 plastic or wood pieces that you can use as shoulders: I reused some white
tension catches for cupboard. You can use anything with enough surface on one
side, to be glued to the robot's body, and a hole on the opposite side, to insert
the screw and attach the arm.
 2 small metal washers
 4 metallic fasteners for paper
 2 maleable wires (from the hair rollers we used in the Cyborg Claw)
 1 Mounting tape (double sided tape, thick)
 1 Craft stick
 Googly eyes
 Hot glue gun
 Scissors
 Small screwdriver (for drilling one hole)
 Needle nose pliers
Step 31: (Bot 4) Drilling Holes
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TEACHER STEP: Before the lesson, open two holes on each fork: one in the
middle, and one at the end of the handle. Drill a hole on each hair gel lid, ad the
middle of the radius distance. Finally, open a hole in the center of the door catch
(or the plastic/wood piece of your election.)

Step 32: (Bot 4) Gearmotor and Axle

Bring the plastic straws and the bamboo sticks. Cut the straws and sticks into two
segments. The segments length must be the enough to cover half of the bottom
of the container (body) plus an extra centimeter to attach the dental floss
container (wheel).

Attach the straw segments to each end of the gearbox's axle. Insert the sticks
segments into each straw. For a better attachment, your can glue the segments
to the axles using hot glue inside the straw, as long as it doesn't jam the gearbox
mechanism.

Step 33: (Bot 4) Wheels

Bring the dental floss containers, and attach them on each side of the gearbox.
You can add a bit of hot glue between the straw and the dental floss container.

Step 34: (Bot 4) Attaching the Gearmotor to the

Body
Take the gearbox. Stick it to the bottom of the body using mounting tape. Then,
stick another segment of mounting tape over the gearbox.

Step 35: (Bot 4) Power

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Take the battery holder. Add a rectangle of mounting tape over the side opposite
to the switch's side.

Insert the batteries, being careful that the polarity is correct. Then close the
battery holder, remove the protective peel from the mounting tape, and then stick
it on the back of the body of the robot.

Take the cables from the battery box, and connect each one to each pin of the
motor

Step 36: (Bot 4) Tail

We will need a third wheel to keep our robot balanced. A fast and cheap option is
to simply stick a craft stick under the robot, using the available The longest part
of the craft stick must be located on the back of the robot, so it doesn't fall back.

Step 37: (Bot 4) Arms

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Attach the forks to the plastic door catches, using the aluminum screws. The
forks must rotate freely; if not, enlarge the hole, and check that the screws are
not to tight.

Step 38: (Bot 4) Attaching the Arms to the Body

Glue the "shoulders" to each side of the body.

Step 39: (Bot 4) Wires

Take the wires. Cut them in two segments, approximately as long as the distance
between the border of the dental floss wheels and the middle hole of the fork
(arm). plus 1 cm.

Using the needle nose pliers, create a small loop in the ends of each one wire.

Step 40: (Bot 4) Cranks

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Take the hair gel lid. Attach the wire to the hole, using a fastener and a small
metal washer. Check that it's not to tight, and that the wire can spin freely. This
will work as a crank.
Step 41: (Bot 4) Attaching the Cranks to the Wheels
Glue the hair gel lid (crank) to the dental floss containers, getting a bigger wheel.

Step 42: (Bot 4) Attaching the Wires to the Arms

Using fasteners, attach the available loop at the end of the wire, to the hole in the
center of the fork. Check that it rotates without problems. The best way to test
that is activating the robot.

Step 43: (Bot 4) Improvements and Questions

Challenge your students with the following questions, so they can improve their
Fork Knight at home:

How can we improve the traction of the wheels?

Answer: you can add some rubber (rubber bands, silicon, Sugru) to the
circumference of the wheel, being careful of not jamming the crank mechanism.

How can we use the available space inside the robot's body?

Answer: you can add more weight to improve the traction. Also, considering that
we didn't touch the inner part of the container, we could use it for keeping
pencils, color markers, Lego bricks or even your favorite candies! Use your
imagination.

I hope you enjoyed these four projects, as much as we making them. Have fun!