Cardboard Mars Rover
A six-wheel rover built from a tissue box, big LEGO wheels, and one stubborn motor.
What I Built
Six oversized wheels mounted on a flexible cardboard chassis so the rover can twist over a pile of books without flipping. One DC motor drives the rear axle through a rubber band.
What I Learned
Bigger wheels climb bigger rocks. A chassis that bends is more useful than a chassis that's stiff. Real Mars rovers are floppy on purpose.
Problem I Solved
The front wheels kept lifting off the ground on tall obstacles. I moved the battery pack forward and the problem went away — weight in the right place changes everything.
What I Would Improve
Add a small servo so the rover can steer instead of pushing in a straight line.
Skills Used
Reflection
“I thought the motor would be the hard part. The hard part was where to put the weight.”