How to Build a Simple Robot – Beetle Robot
Posted on January 6th, 2006 in How To Make a Robot, RobotsDo not miss the new up-to-date and detailed How to Build a Robot – Grand Tutorial Series.
The following article will show you how to build a simple robot, called “The Beetle Robot”, created by Jerome Demers. It’s great for beginners and easy to do.
This is the Beetle Robot v. 3 you are going to build:
Before starting, I suggest you to read the complete tutorials. This will greatly lower the chances of you making a mistake.
Tools Needed:
- soldering iron  ( here’s a helpful tutorial on soldering )
- electronic solder
- diagonal cutter
- Mini glue gun
Components for the robot
- 2x – small 1.5 Volts motors
- 2x – small paperclips
- 2x – big paperclips
- 2x – batteries AAA or AA
- 1x – battery holder AAA or AA
- 1x – 2 cm of heat shrink
- 1x – wooden pearl  (for the caster)
- 1x – meter of electric wire
- 2x – Sub-mini lever SPDT switches
Here are the serial numbers of the components and tools from RadioShack .
| Component | Number |
| soldering iron | 64-2184 |
| electronic solder | 64-006 |
| diagonal cutter | 64-2951 |
| 1.5 Volts motor | 273-223 |
| battery holder | 270-398 |
| SPDT switch | 275-016 |
Most of the components can be bought for much cheaper at Digi-Key, Jameco, or similar.
At RobotShop you can find the dual AA battery holder and the small DC motor. You can find these components at any good electronic store.
Here is all the parts for the construction the beetle robot.
1. Cut the electric wire in pieces of 6 cm each, 13 times.
Strip 1 cm at each end.
2. Regroup all the components.
3. Solder each wire to each components except the two batteries.
4. Take the battery holder and make a connection to the connection.
This will give a third connection.See picture below.
The blue wire is the third connections
5. Turn the battery holder up side down so the batteries point to the ground. Glue the two switches on the battery holder in a V form.
6. Glue the motor beside each switch so that the shaft touches the ground
7. Take the big paperclip and make the caster like the picture below.
You can make a nice looking caster or a normal one
I prefer the nice one
8. How to make the connection
9. Take the small paper clip and bend them to make antenna.
Glue them to the switches and don’t put to much glue.
Add 1 cm of heat shrink to the shaft of each motor.
10. Add the batteries in the battery holder and put it on a flat surface to see your creation take life. Congratulation!
There is a comprehensive debugging tutorial on Jerome’s site, in French. A Google translation is here.
Now you've completed your robot, add it to RobotBox!
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June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
what does the antena do?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
The feelers make the robot avoid obstacles.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Isnt this an hbridge, just of course, very basic? I like using a tutebot.. If you added capcitors and a variable resistor you will be able to make it turn around..
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
can you add wheels
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
hello,
yes you could say it look like the a h-bridge. The same principal.
If you want to add wheels, you need some motors with a gearbox on it. These motors use on the beetle robot spin to fast and a to weak to but a wheel on it. Use the Solarbotics.com motors GM8/9 or GM2/3 to make a robot using wheels. Solarbotics have a the combo deal, motor + wheels at a great price.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
what is the middle wire. becuse i made one and it does not use the middle wires.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
YEs!
I created one, and it works great! Thanks a lot for this tutorial! 
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
what use is it in a house
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
[B]I got it right n it was really nice to see it.[/B]
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
It does not work correctly with me and i love electronics
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
I was wondering if you made a shell for your bug robot
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
YOU DIDN”T LIST ALL OF THE MATERIALS NEEDED YOU FORGOT A SOLDER AND A GLUE GUN!!!
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
:grin IT is cool
ilike this type of simple modals
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Pls in which gadget can i find an SPDT switch
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
it was a little bit hard bacause of the solderen parts but anyhow i find it cool thanks alot
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
holy cow this was hard to make the connections confused me so much
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Lots of fun, but my Tech Ed teacher was the one who made me do it….. :cry
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
the directions change in the middle of step 8
originally i needed 13 wires step 8 only showed 6
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Hi my name is Alan, im 15 years old and im from mexico i do the robot and was a succses than you very much bye.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
i wanted to know where you got your beetle cover from?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
In one of the previous posts it said what was needed to make it turn around, but could you write something to show how? Thanks so much!
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
just wondering how it moves.. i understand the battery but then what moves exactly?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Do you need the pearl.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Sorry but I have a little problem with the beetle bot . My SPDT switches are too hard and the beetle can’t activate them . can someone help me ?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
:zzz the robot is soooo cool! the idea of the motors just moving alon the ground is genius!! i just wanted to tel you that i added small green LED’s fr eyes, gave it a shell and made it so it can also go backward if both antenna are pushed. i love that the robot is so easy coz i can add so much extra to it and im only twelve!! :grin
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
ahh .. yeah about this bettle of your’s i won’t call it a robot, because A robot is an electronic thing
that can think on it’s own. but this can’t think on it’s own.. No offence. nice bettle though 
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
hi i saw it for the first time…
i’ll start making it…
hope it’s fun.if i make it this will b my first robot
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Cool! I’m going to try it!
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
what r the funtions that this beetle robot can do ?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
I don’t know why but the energy for the motors goes only to the right and the other spins slow . Because of that the robot turns around in a circle .
Ps. sorry for the bad English .
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Thanks for the instructions to make the robot. I build one and it is fun to see it move about. I intend to build another one using a toy car.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
that one is like my mouse robot that i created
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
Thanks for posting the article for building the beetle bot. I always wanted to build a robot and this could be it. Later I could go on to robots with microchips for their own brains. But for now thanks for the small amateurical tutorial.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
cool…i need this stuff 2 start with…definitely goin to try it….if any one have a good project pls send me. i m 3rd year b.tech student….want to build a robot for my project….my id is….
deamresh@yahoo.co.in
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
THANKS FOR PUBLISHING YOUR ARTICLE ON BEETLE BOT SIR….MY AIM IS TO UILD A ROBOT…NOW I GOT A NEW IDEA FROM UR ARTICLE THANKYOU SO MUCH…
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
thats alot! I built mine for a project and it actually works! one thing though, when both batteries are in the switches dont do anything, can you help, me figure out why?
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
It was really a cool and handy robot, especially for a begineer. Such simple designs are fantastic.
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
I’ve been toying with the idea of using “Hex bugs” as a cheap platform for a robotics summer course. I am going to build a beetle bug instead. I think I’ve got the cost down to $22 for a beetle bot + microcontroller and all necessary to follow a line. Thanks for the great tutorial!
June 9th, 2008 at 21:16
I MADE IT! I ACTUALLY MADE IT!! USING MY OWN PINK MANICURED HANDS, I MADE IT!!!
three cheers for robotic bug thingies! i wont fail my physics project!!
July 8th, 2008 at 17:02
Where are the freakin instructions?! I am NOT a robotic wiz ya know. PLEASE give me an answer soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 13:03
if you have a bigger bug send me on my e-mail.this is my e-mail darren1932@hotmail.com
August 4th, 2008 at 21:27
<<<< waw that so cool i really love to play robots,,,,,,,,,, the best”"”"”"”
August 5th, 2008 at 02:55
what is the purpose of the beetle robot???????
pLLLLLZzzzz
answer me because thus is my project………
August 14th, 2008 at 08:41
For Sophie
The instructions are all there, listed on nine pages underneath the second picture. You just have to click the links.
August 15th, 2008 at 03:32
is it possible to make it remote controlled?or… some kind of ON and OFF mechanism to start and stop the robot? what should be modifications to b done for making it to rotate?
August 17th, 2008 at 14:28
you didn”t send me
August 19th, 2008 at 17:35
what does this robot do ?
August 31st, 2008 at 14:30
the robot moves forward until it hits an obsticle at which point it turns or reverses to avoid it and keeps going in a different direction. made one frome the updated design on instructables and it works great, realy fun little project good 4 beginners.
September 5th, 2008 at 17:03
Hey-cool project, i’m planning to build it.
When the antenna touch something, it activates the switches, but what do they do? Cause without all fancy robotics stuff like micro-controllers etc., it wont turn all the way around…
September 10th, 2008 at 08:40
[...] How to Build a Simple Robot – Beetle Robot [...]
September 12th, 2008 at 13:34
No use. I wasted a lot of time. A big flop. Its useless. Isimply wasted my money and time.
September 12th, 2008 at 19:16
OK well i built it but it doesn’t work. It moves, but turns and when it hits something it doesn’t turn around just goes back and forth and bumps against the object (sorry to be so critical)… But it was still fun to build.
September 13th, 2008 at 13:57
i saw it and cant wait 2 make it
looks fun. tnx!
November 6th, 2008 at 17:36
What does it do?
November 7th, 2008 at 07:33
I think this is one of the bests for initiatives
November 8th, 2008 at 15:47
finaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally i make it .. thnx
November 27th, 2008 at 13:38
hii,
please tell me what is total expenditure for this beetel robot.reply soon
December 6th, 2008 at 13:32
i found that this robot is interesting,easy to make,friendly….talk to me in pompusmellow@yahoo.com.
devoted inquiry to u…
December 11th, 2008 at 02:51
I love it! Its my very first robotic thing, and now I’m impressing my friends. It’s awesome – thanks very much for the instructions – George.
December 19th, 2008 at 02:36
It’s such a not simple robot…..
December 22nd, 2008 at 23:04
easy to make really lots of fun to watch on air hockey table
January 1st, 2009 at 21:32
great stuff but it an’t a tutorial, and no other web site that i have seen has had a tutorial on how to make the robot that the site describes.
January 2nd, 2009 at 19:53
did you know that they created a robot dog. the drawback is that it learns and thinks on its own. then because of that discovery and creation, people are creating more learning robots. the more they learn, the more they will become aware that we are weaker than them and will wonder why we are in controll. We will be over come and wiped out. be careful when dealing with robots. make sure the ones you create are weaker than you.
January 7th, 2009 at 09:31
i like the way u made it :::::::
i like 2 see more such creations::::
January 16th, 2009 at 00:22
i love this site i hope u make more robots and post how u made them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 19th, 2009 at 10:56
hey, how does this thinh move without any wheels?
January 19th, 2009 at 10:58
and how much does this thing cost?
January 19th, 2009 at 11:32
I was thinking of doing a science project and I was thinking of every day problems. I was wondering if I would be able to attach a cleaning pad underneath of it…do u know how big the robot will turn out to be?
January 23rd, 2009 at 13:20
it looks ugly what do it do and long does it take to make it
January 27th, 2009 at 18:31
this is so cool how much dos soldering iron cost .i cant wait to try it
February 1st, 2009 at 08:39
you can find the spdt switches in computer mice, it what makes that clicking noise! lol
February 1st, 2009 at 18:02
uh im gonna build a robo suit so i dont necessarily need this
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:27
this is the first tym me and my classmate do a project that is new in our school…hope thiss will works!!plss pray for me!!hahah..
February 21st, 2009 at 11:29
[...] Beetle Robot [...]
February 24th, 2009 at 19:54
I haven’t even built the robot. I’m only in 4th grade but my dad is super smart and is going to help me. I am building it for my science far. My question is how does it go with no wheels and what does it do?
February 26th, 2009 at 16:08
i hope this works. im gonna upgrade it to make it go up stairs. wahooooo! wooop!
March 21st, 2009 at 08:21
[...] If you like this article, please check out this. How to Build A Simple Robot, The Beetle Robot. [...]
March 29th, 2009 at 20:48
I am new to soldering, and I am having trouble soldering the antenna to the DPDT switches. I have tried using a hot glue gun, but that wasn’t strong engough. Please help.
March 29th, 2009 at 22:21
James,
Soldering the antenna can be a difficult part. You have to get it very hot. Try holding the iron on the antenna and switch leaf for a while to heat it up – but don’t melt the switch. You can also try wrapping a piece of thin wire around the antenna/switch leaf to hold it in place while you solder.
April 10th, 2009 at 20:18
So, is the leftover 22cm of electric wire used for the connection to the battery holder? Also, if the electric wire is used as the connection, do you solder it to the connection to make the connection?
May 12th, 2009 at 14:15
hi am a 5th grade student im building this experement i love it thank you bye (:
May 12th, 2009 at 14:17
hi im angel going to build the beetle robot bye (:
May 19th, 2009 at 05:09
I am bit confused about the wiring.. pl. be more clear.. and tell me the exact purpose of the switch..
June 9th, 2009 at 21:52
great! I love robots. ” this could be the beginning of my techno life”. thanks
June 25th, 2009 at 12:17
i like it beacause it is simple
July 19th, 2009 at 04:14
any video sample how it looks when running?
July 28th, 2009 at 22:49
i have built and is awesome going all round my room
August 5th, 2009 at 03:45
i wasn’t able 2 get tat switch… is ther any other we can use???
ah..and also wat’s its use?? help me out on this guys thanx..
September 18th, 2009 at 11:51
omg i want it i just dont know where 2 find the parts i need 2 make it its killing me!
September 18th, 2009 at 15:28
im almost done making my 1rst thing i made it a little original it has a tail that makes him turn around and other things i made him look like a roach its my little buddy
October 8th, 2009 at 21:07
it is easy to make!
October 16th, 2009 at 23:29
all i am doing right now is taking notes
October 17th, 2009 at 16:22
solder?glue gun? seriously guys what is that or where can i get that oh and is math important for those things?
October 20th, 2009 at 18:42
i am not done yet but seems pretty easy to build the structure and it is kind of amazing.
October 23rd, 2009 at 17:21
hello, is an electronic solder needed in this project? You said soldering iron AND electronic soldier is needed. is that so? or do you think i can manage with just a soldering iron. As this is the first time i am building a robot. and i do not know much. so please help?
October 30th, 2009 at 10:14
Raisa,
The solder is like the glue that you use to stick electrical parts together with. The iron is what you use to melt the “glue”. You will need both for this project. But, any place that sells a soldering iron will also sell solder.
November 1st, 2009 at 06:34
where can i get those?
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:15
can i do this for my science project(grade -6)
November 8th, 2009 at 12:33
it is very creative…
it is small easy installing process..
November 25th, 2009 at 11:21
what is? > wooden pearl
> heat shrink
> diagonal cutter
> Sub-mini lever SPDT switches
(guys i am absolutely new to robotics but i really want to make one ,
plz help, and where can i get the whole tutorial which u have
mentioned above)
December 3rd, 2009 at 15:35
I’m doing a school project what is the use of it and how can I improve it?
December 6th, 2009 at 23:43
Maddy – the wooden pearl is basically a wooden bead that you can find in the craft section of any department store. the heat shrink is special tubing that when exposed to heat (such as a hairdryer) will shrink and wrap around whatever is put inside it. (the motor shaft). diagonal cutter is just a small set of wire cutters. the switches you can get at your local electronics store (radio shack for example), and are used to “open” and “close” the electric circuit to and from the batteries. The entire tutorial is here, just look directly under the pictures and you will see “Pages”, click on each number to go to the next page. Good Luck!!
December 8th, 2009 at 07:45
very simple…………..i am going to try it……………
December 9th, 2009 at 15:13
Your robot is intrusting and it looks easy to make but i wanna make somthing more creative do you have any instructions or ideas about it or what i can make? Love jashua
December 22nd, 2009 at 05:45
how can we use this robot in other ways, its nice but simple though im in 10th grade i want to know how can we use this small structure in something else and what does it benefit us ?
any ideas..
thanks =)
December 30th, 2009 at 21:10
Thanks Worked Perfect, This Was Cool To Build, Picked Up Everything I Needed
At Radio Shack For $20 Bucks. But The Tutorial Is A little Messed Up You Dont Need All Thoes Wires, Look At The Photos At The Top And Bottom Of Page 8 For The Correct Wiring. Hope You Have As Much Fun As I Did.
Feel Free To Email Me If You Have Any Questions.
January 26th, 2010 at 14:25
this is cool me and my friend will do it for a school project B-)
January 30th, 2010 at 17:25
i am doing this with my uncle for a school project its gunna be sick
January 31st, 2010 at 05:37
im new to robotics or any hardware applications, but have to learn and study now because of a project,,, and luckily i find this site.. is it possible to add a light sensor in it or any sensor to detect color so that the beetle will be able to follow the color?… or a microphone to detect sounds for the beetle to go to where the sound come from,,, thanks for any help…
February 3rd, 2010 at 15:07
Just one question… How much will it cost to get the materials? I have a bad budget.
February 11th, 2010 at 02:15
Good starter project.
February 16th, 2010 at 05:57
finally i make my 1st robot thanx..
February 21st, 2010 at 09:23
i made it as our topic in our investigatory project in physics… it is a very good stepping stone for the future youths who will conduct the same topic…
February 21st, 2010 at 23:07
it is good but if u provide wheels to the motor shaft it will be more efficient
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:28
i think this robot iscool
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:39
what type of electrical wire do i need to use to make this as i have found that there are many different types available, thanks
March 19th, 2010 at 03:01
very simple robot ,
thnking you
March 19th, 2010 at 11:01
thank you so much…you have explained the things soooo welllll…!!
********************** for you…
March 25th, 2010 at 08:09
can we insert light???
March 26th, 2010 at 05:10
Gr8 Begin
March 26th, 2010 at 09:55
its easy
thanks……….
March 28th, 2010 at 04:44
wow it’s super
April 6th, 2010 at 03:51
Hi,this robot looks cool.Can anyone say the functions of this bot.How does the antennas sense the obstacles and turn around?
April 27th, 2010 at 00:19
yea…am going try this…it is so cool:)
May 6th, 2010 at 17:33
Hello, I like this idea but how does it look at the end when your done and what does it do?
May 25th, 2010 at 21:05
This is a great project for all (beginners like me.). I built it and it was really nice. I am thinking on how to make it go backwards and forward with a remote control system. I love it. Why don’t we try to take this up a notch. Lets do it together. ciao.
May 26th, 2010 at 20:47
Cant you cover the outside of the bug?
June 1st, 2010 at 03:18
where can i find sub-mini lever SPDT switches
June 6th, 2010 at 23:02
I didnt build it yet but it looks awesome and when I grow up i’ll go to a college about robots.I just hope my dad will help me.
June 24th, 2010 at 20:20
In theory wouldn’t the robot just keep spinning or going backwards until the switch is hit again.
June 26th, 2010 at 07:30
as I am a student of class 6. so it is very helpful or me .
July 3rd, 2010 at 09:49
robots are my favourite
July 21st, 2010 at 09:54
Actually this project simply super .Definitely I will try this
July 25th, 2010 at 09:17
heya so how does it turn?? and wat does it the antenna do??
July 31st, 2010 at 01:35
i m definetly going to mak one n inform u
August 7th, 2010 at 13:50
Nice Sharing ….Please keep it up
August 8th, 2010 at 14:19
this robot is fantastic but i can not good speek englesh so please cn you rich albanian language
August 18th, 2010 at 07:37
its fatteeeee………
August 20th, 2010 at 12:31
how do i build it it just shows the tools.
August 20th, 2010 at 12:40
Hi Jake, The post was separated in pages. We merged the pages so now you should see all the information at once.
August 24th, 2010 at 09:52
thank’s . I am going to make it
August 26th, 2010 at 17:49
what are the three things that make a robot a robot
August 27th, 2010 at 10:43
According to our own definition of a robot, it should be an electromechanical device that has knowledge of its surrounding and an impact on (or the ability to adapt to) its environment.
August 29th, 2010 at 09:31
your projects may help who people start their projects without knowing about robot
August 31st, 2010 at 01:00
can,i add wheel
August 31st, 2010 at 07:46
Is the bettle robot gives any application for us ?
Are the bettle robot is energy efficient ?
August 31st, 2010 at 07:49
Your project is help me to know about robot !!
Is there any energy efficient robotic project is available ?
August 31st, 2010 at 14:19
i want to powerful arm of my robo,which can lift the 50 kg of weight,can i use cylindr kit by generating 4 bar pressure it can possible and what should equipment for that