My boy has a question, how do you build a robot?

Answer 1

Easy go to http://www.battlebots.com/ click on the building and competing button at the top.

Answer 2

Depends on what kind of robot. If your boy is thinking of a simpler robot that runs around on wheels and has a grabber, something like a battle bot, well, there are building sets that can be used to make basic ones, along with more advanced kits where you can make robots that crawl, obey very basic instructions, ect..
I get the feeling your boy isn't thinking about that type of robot though :-).
I take it he's thinking somewhere along the lines of C-3PO from StarWars?
Well, trying to make this as simply as possible...
You'll need a robot "brain", or as we call them, basically a computer. A processor, the RAM chips to operate it, a nice big hard drive to store all the long term memory, and the unit that conects all that together, along with conecting to the various wires in the robots' body.
You'll need the basic frame for it, the arms and legs, ect.. And the "muscles". Electronic motors don't work that well at present, so maybe pneutatic or hydrolic motors would work better. You'll need the circuits and chips to translate the signals from the "brain" to the "muscles", and you'll need the various sensors as well. Small video cameras for eyes, micorphones for the ears, and if you want to go all our, heat and cold, and pressure sensors on various parts of the body. Sorry, no taste or smelling abilities for this ropot.
Next you'll need a power supply, or battery. Unfortunatly, unless you have access to a battery that is a nuclear one or something, I don't know of any batteries that can power such a robot for a good amount of time (a few hours).
Building such a robot is a laufty goal, but I wouldn't discourage your boy. Let him imagine, and design, and even try to build a stuff like hands and the various parts. I myself was such a boy, imagining building my own robots. And I guess in my mind, I still do dream of it. But who knows, he may build the state of the art robot at some point, that will become famous!
Anyway, here's a cool site for you and your son to check out about robotics: http://www.androidworld.com/ . The creator of the site is even building his own line of Androids (robots that look human).
Hope that helps,

Paul

Answer 3

The discovery store was selling these build a robot kits last time i was in one. It was for kids and told them how robots worked and taught them as they built it. Sounds like a fun activity you and your son could do.

Answer 4

Radio Shack has some starter kits for building a few robots. They are pretty expensive though. You might also look at higher end electronics and toy sites.

Answer 5

I don't think this is a question that can be answered here.

Answer 6

easy legomindstorms