In the January 15 issue of Wonder Magazine, we featured Shawn, Elizabeth, and Isabelle’s project, Dash Draws. Many of you were inspired to recreate it with your own LEGO® bricks and robot and asked us if we could think of a way to not have Dash’s head weighed down by the weight of the LEGO® contraption. We created Dash Draws using LEGO® Technics! This drawing contraption will give you better control of Dash’s head, which will let you lift your marker to create more complex drawings and write words. We started a love message to a good friend by drawing a heart!
What you'll need:
Dash
Building Brick Extensions
1 hr
- 2 rubber bands
- 1 marker
Mission:
Draw a shape, message, or abstract piece of art with Dash and a marker!
You will need the following parts:
Setup:
-
Attach the Building Brick Extensions to the sides of Dash’s head
-
The pen attachment has two main parts: the pen holder and the attachment frame. Download the PDF (above) for building instructions and a parts list!
-
Insert the pen into the pen holder. The pen holder is constructed using axles so that it can be adjusted for pens of different widths.
-
Secure the pen to the holder using rubber bands.
-
Once the pen is secure, attach the pen holder to the pen attachment frame.
-
Use pegs to attach the frame to the Building Brick Extensions.
Play Options:
Go App
Suggested for Ages: 5+
Get started with making your creation with Go. Simply place Dash on a big piece of butcher paper and drive around.
Path App
Suggested for Ages: 5+
Can you try using Path to make your love note? Try using this path with your new pen contraption! You can attach the pen to the back of Dash so that Dash doesn’t think that the pen is an obstacle in front!
Blockly App
Suggested for Ages: 8+
Use Blockly to draw a heart by programming Dash’s movements and head position. We used the Set Wheel Speed block to make Dash go forward, drawing the straight part of the heart for 2 seconds. Then we used the Set Wheel Speed block with different wheel speeds to make Dash draw a curve. Then we moved Dash back to where Dash started and ran the same program again, but this time creating a curve that goes the other way.
Xylo App
Suggested for Ages: 5+
