Homemade robots are a great way to experiment with a variety of arts and sciences, and learn more about the laws of robotics without having to shell out thousands for a degree in robotics. In fact, with the right project, you can use your robots to entertain your pets, or even your kids. A robot, by definition, carries out a task automatically. With a few simple tools and some basic materials, you can build a scooting, ricocheting robot in under 15 minutes.