Trash Chomper

Build a garbage eating monster!

As you work through the session, make sure to review all Bit diagrams to learn how Bits work and how they relate to the real world. You can also find information about each Bit in the DCI STEM STEM Kit Bit Index

Inspire

Career Exploration

Explore these three women who have made significant contributions to STEM fields. Please take a few minutes to read their stories in the postcards below and think about the following:

- Can you see yourself in her job?

- Are you interested to learn more about her job?

- What inspires you about this role model?

Download Women in STEM postcards here:

SALLY RIDE JANE X. LUU VIRGINIA HOLSINGER

INSPIRATIONAL INVENTION VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Turn boring objects like trashcans into smart objects. These trashcans are interactive and help the environment by making it fun to pick up trash and recycle.

A trash can that makes a sound when you throw something away keeps people from littering

A littleBits-Powered Recycling Bin

A smart recycling bin that turns recycling into a game

Create

The Trash Chomper

Build a garbage eating monster.

CREATE: Watch the following video playlist below for the building instructions to create the Trash Chomper:

PLAYLIST

Robots
Create Trash Chomper

CREATE: View the following photo slideshow on how to build your Trash Chomper invention.

Building your Template
Building your Circuit
Building your Invention

Step 1: Find Template #8 in your Kit.

Step 2: Start by folding and then unfolding all dotted lines downward and away from yourself like so.

Step 3: Fold and then unfold every solid line upward towards yourself like so.

Step 4: Next, start matching numbered tabs and faces with corresponding numbered slots and faces in order from #1 to #10.

Step 5: Now move onto placing tab #2 into slot #2 like so.

Step 6: Next we are going to match face #3 with the other face #3.

Step 7: Next we are going to match face #4 with the other face #4.

Step 8: Match face #3 and #4 and fold inward like so.

Step 9: Then fold face #5 to match other face #5.

Step 10: These steps create a base at the bottom of your chomper bot.

Step 11: Next, move to the top to face #6 and fold it to match the other face #6.

Step 12: Fold face #7 as well to match the other face #7.

Step 13: See how this end also replicates the steps from the bottom creating another base as we fold face #6 and #7 inward.

Step 14: Next, fold over face #8 onto the matching face #8.

Step 15: We are now finished with this part of the invention.

Step 16: Next, we are going to build the chomper part of invention using Template #9.

Step 17: Again, begin by folding and unfolding all dotted lines downward and solid lines upward.

Step 18: Then begin folding matching numbered faces or tabs in order from #1 to #7 like so.

Step 19: See how we have create a small box with an opening for our invention.

Step 1: For the circuit, attach the battery, power bit, wire, proximity sensor, wire, slide dimmer and servo bit with attachment (motor for arm) together like so.

Step 2: Make sure the green servo bit switch is set to TURN mode.

Step 3: In addition, we will be adding the arm to the servo bit motor, however, you can keep it off of the circuit for now to make it easier to build.

Step 1: Start by sliding the mounting board into the rectangular side of the chomper bot like so.

Step 2: Next, attach your battery and power bit onto the board.

Step 3: Place the bits like so onto your chomper bot.

Step 4: Next, lets move into your chomper bot by placing the slide dimmer and servo bit on the inside.

Step 5: See how the wire orange bit is at top while the green servo bit is at the bottom like so.

Step 6: Next, attach the motor bit like so.

Step 7: See how the bits are attached.

Step 8: Power on the power bit.

Step 9: Next, push the slide dimmer all the way to the top of the dimmer to place the motor in neutral.

Step 10: Attach the center of the arm onto the motor like so

Step 11: Now, attach the second part of the invention by sliding it onto the moving arm like so.

Step 12: Next, attach the pink proximity sensor bit onto the holes onto the chomper piece like so.

Step 13: Next, push the slide dimmer to the center.

Step 14: Finally, close the door of the chomper bot.

Step 15: Now test out your invention!

Step 1: Find Template #8 in your Kit. Step 2: Start by folding and then unfolding all dotted lines downward and away from yourself like so. Step 3: Fold and then unfold every solid line upward towards yourself like so. Step 4: Next, start matching numbered tabs and faces with corresponding numbered slots and faces in order from #1 to #10. Step 5: Now move onto placing tab #2 into slot #2 like so. Step 6: Next we are going to match face #3 with the other face #3. Step 7: Next we are going to match face #4 with the other face #4. Step 8: Match face #3 and #4 and fold inward like so. Step 9: Then fold face #5 to match other face #5. Step 10: These steps create a base at the bottom of your chomper bot. Step 11: Next, move to the top to face #6 and fold it to match the other face #6. Step 12: Fold face #7 as well to match the other face #7. Step 13: See how this end also replicates the steps from the bottom creating another base as we fold face #6 and #7 inward. Step 14: Next, fold over face #8 onto the matching face #8. Step 15: We are now finished with this part of the invention. Step 16: Next, we are going to build the chomper part of invention using Template #9. Step 17: Again, begin by folding and unfolding all dotted lines downward and solid lines upward. Step 18: Then begin folding matching numbered faces or tabs in order from #1 to #7 like so. Step 19: See how we have create a small box with an opening for our invention. Step 1: For the circuit, attach the battery, power bit, wire, proximity sensor, wire, slide dimmer and servo bit with attachment (motor for arm) together like so. Step 2: Make sure the green servo bit switch is set to TURN mode. Step 3: In addition, we will be adding the arm to the servo bit motor, however, you can keep it off of the circuit for now to make it easier to build. Step 1: Start by sliding the mounting board into the rectangular side of the chomper bot like so. Step 2: Next, attach your battery and power bit onto the board. Step 3: Place the bits like so onto your chomper bot. Step 4: Next, lets move into your chomper bot by placing the slide dimmer and servo bit on the inside. Step 5: See how the wire orange bit is at top while the green servo bit is at the bottom like so. Step 6: Next, attach the motor bit like so. Step 7: See how the bits are attached. Step 8: Power on the power bit. Step 9: Next, push the slide dimmer all the way to the top of the dimmer to place the motor in neutral. Step 10: Attach the center of the arm onto the motor like so Step 11: Now, attach the second part of the invention by sliding it onto the moving arm like so. Step 12: Next, attach the pink proximity sensor bit onto the holes onto the chomper piece like so. Step 13: Next, push the slide dimmer to the center. Step 14: Finally, close the door of the chomper bot. Step 15: Now test out your invention!

Play

PLAY: Try out your invention!

Once you have been built your Trash Chomper invention, test it out to make sure it works.

Does the Proximity Sensor Bit sense when you throw something in your Trash?
Does the Trash Chomper quickly chomp the trash away?
Keep in mind that the first prototype likely won’t work perfectly the first time; failure is part of the process.

Remix

Remix: Update or Improve your Prototype

How can you use Bits and craft materials to improve or customize your invention?

Here are some ideas:

Try using your Trash Chomper in different places/scenarios:
- Can it be used for something other than trash?
  - Can it be a secret compartment? A piggy bank? A pet food dispenser? What other ideas do you have?
- What happens if you turn it upside down or on its side?
  - Does that change how it works?

trash 3.png

Experiment with Bits:
- Try swapping the Sound Sensor Bit in place of the Proximity Sensor Bit.
  - How does this change the function of your Trash Chomper? Hint: Try clapping to make it chomp.
- Try adding other Bits.
  - What happens if you add a Long LED Bit or a Buzzer Bit? How could this improve your invention?

trash 2.png

Add Other Craft Materials
- How can materials transform your Trash Chomper into something else like a mailbox or a pet feeder?
  - Use stickers or add other craft materials and get creative.
- Give your invention some personality - does it look like an animal? A plant?
- Add a sign or message

SHARE: Share your invention with friends or family!

Here are some ideas how you can share about your invention:

Create a story about your invention.
Talk about the updates or unique features you added to the original prototype and why you decided to make these changes.
Snap photos of your final invention and send to your site coordinator!