::: drawbot update
Remember those ideas Donna had rattling around in her head last week after she came up with the chatter teeth drawbot idea? Well, with some useful tips from her gadget loving husband Col’ …
she has continued experimenting with designing an even more interactive drawbot for the children to play with.
Over the weekend they came up with this really cool battery operated design …
one the children can switch on very easily by themselves and which makes the most fabulous patterns!
The downside however, is that the children don’t have a lot of intetaction with it once it is switched on …
other than by catching it, picking it up and moving it around …
which is fun and totally understandable as they all love the thrill of the chase!
Ideally however, we would like them to have some control over the direction the machine travels and the patterns it makes.
We think therefore prototype number 3 is getting closer to being a real winner!
By using a small battery operated line remote motor, we have come up with a drawbot which the children can manoeuvre with a forward AND reverse button on the control.
As it is inevitable the children are still going to want to pick it up and move it around …
we’ve had a good think about the materials we can use to make it stronger …
and we reckon prototype number 4 will be much more durable and even more irresistible!
We’ll let you know once it’s ready to go!
Tags: batteries, drawing, paper, small motor, textas
This inspires me to see what I can do with one of my sons remote control vehicles!
::: Have fun with it Rachele!
How much fun is this. Can’t wait until it comes on the market
::: Well you just never know Shar. The idea has certainly crossed our minds!?!
You should definitely patent this it is like a new age Spirograph….
::: Awww! Thanks for the reminder Bubbles and Mud Pies … Spirograph was the best!
Agree that it’s the interaction you want – looking forward to the next exciting episode I guess this is where the inventing table gets you…
::: Perhaps, like children Louise, adults learn best through play too!
We have one of those which we made from Maker’s Faire. I like the option of including a remote control!
::: The idea of the remote control came about Min as we wanted to give the ownership of the project back to the children … and we think we have!
Fun and Fantastic! Great idea! Kerri
::: Thanks Kerri!
Aren’t we lucky to have you guys to do all the experimenting for us!
::: … and aren’t we lucky Jenny that we get to play around with these very cool machines all day too!
I love the story of this creative journey, there is so much the children must be learning from this process of trialling and improving.
::: They are certainly enjoying test driving these very engaging little machines Christie!
oh man! i need to get my hands on some of this stuff. maybe i’ll solicit families?!?!? thanks again for another idea.
::: You’re very welcome Kristin!
You gals are at it AGAIN! Inventing, playing, and making the world a better place for children. Thank you! This would also be a fabulous creativity booster for older kids — to challenge them to invent their own draw-bot. And I agree that you could make a fortune off of this idea.
BTW, I found a book of “draw and tell” stories at the library today. Are you still looking for ideas?
::: hee hee hee … we are having a good time inventing and playing Rachelle and we really do think you’re right, older children could definitely have a go at his … so simple really! We We would love to know the title and author of the book you found. Those draw and tell stories are the best!
Thank you for the inspiration! Here is what I came up with using RC vehicles.
http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/2011/02/remote-control-art.html
::: Oh YES … love it! Very cool indeed Rachele.
