Spider Bot Project demo
Demo Animation

01 Project Overview

A six-legged hexapod robot demonstrating biomimetic locomotion, forward/inverse kinematics, and multi-legged gait planning. The project includes URDF design, Gazebo simulation, and ROS control basics for stable walking across multiple gait patterns.

02 Key Features & Achievements

Complete mechanical design with 3-DOF legs (18 total degrees of freedom) fabricated via 3D printing

Implemented tripod gait, wave gait, and ripple gait patterns

Transformation matrix system for calculating foot positions and joint configurations

Adapted hexapod simulation with custom kinematics parameters

Coordinated control of 18 servos for stable locomotion

Iterative design process with multiple versions optimized for weight and strength

03 Technical Stack

SolidWorks
3D printing
Arduino
18x servo motors
Gazebo simulation
ROS control
Forward/inverse kinematics
C/C++
Python

04 Challenges & Solutions

System integration and optimization

Through systematic problem-solving and iterative development, we addressed these challenges by implementing robust algorithms, optimizing system architecture, and conducting extensive testing to ensure reliability and performance.

05 Key Achievements

Achieved stable walking using tripod gait pattern

Demonstrated multiple gait patterns (tripod, wave, ripple)

Maintained static stability through proper center-of-mass management

Successfully adapted Gazebo simulation for testing

06 Key Takeaways

Kinematics Fundamentals: Deep understanding of forward and inverse kinematics is essential for legged robots

Understanding gait patterns and their trade-offs is crucial for effective locomotion

The leg geometry constrains control possibilities; the control algorithms must respect mechanical limits

Iterative Design Process: First prototypes rarely work perfectly