Hey everyone, so, today I want to talk about something I’ve been messing with recently – building a spider bot, specifically one I’m calling the “Williamsburg Spider Bot”. Yeah, I know, creative name, right?
I started this whole thing because I got really into those Spider-Bots in that new Spider-Man game. You know, the ones you gotta find all over the city? Anyway, I thought, “Why not try to make one in real life?” It sounded like a fun challenge, and I’ve always been into tinkering with stuff.
First things first, I had to figure out what I was even trying to build. I spent hours looking at those in-game Spider-Bots, trying to get a feel for their design. There’s this one in the game, the Spider-Girl Spider-Bot, that’s hidden in the Upper West Side. It’s on this tall glass building, just chilling on the western side. That’s the one I decided to base my bot on.
Gathering supplies was the next big hurdle. I needed all sorts of things: motors, a microcontroller, wires, some kind of material for the body, and, of course, a power source. I raided my old electronics kits and even hit up a couple of hobby stores. It took a while, but I managed to gather all the parts I needed.
Next up, I started putting the thing together. This was probably the most time-consuming part. I had to solder wires, program the microcontroller to move the legs, and figure out how to attach everything to the body. Let me tell you, there were a lot of moments where I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew. I messed up the wiring more times than I can count, and at one point, I think I fried a motor. But hey, that’s part of the process, right?
- Designing the legs: Each leg has multiple joints, and figuring out the right angles and lengths to make it move smoothly was a real headache. I made several prototypes out of cardboard before I settled on the final design.
- Programming the movement: This was another beast entirely. I wanted the bot to be able to walk forward, backward, and maybe even turn. Getting all the legs to coordinate was tricky, but after a lot of trial and error, I finally got it working.
- Building the body: I used a combination of 3D-printed parts and some lightweight metal for the body. It needed to be sturdy enough to hold all the components but light enough so the motors could move it.
After weeks of work, I finally had a working prototype. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. It moved kind of jerky, and the battery life was pretty terrible. But it moved! It actually walked across my desk, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
I’m still tweaking the design and trying to improve its performance. I’m thinking about adding some sensors so it can avoid obstacles, and maybe even a camera so I can see what it sees. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even be able to control it with my phone.
This whole project has been a wild ride. It’s been frustrating at times, but also incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned a ton about robotics, programming, and problem-solving. And honestly, it’s just been a lot of fun. If any of you are thinking about starting a similar project, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a lot of late nights and a few burned fingers. Trust me, it’s worth it.
So, yeah, that’s the story of my Williamsburg Spider Bot so far.
It’s not just about building a robot; it’s about the whole process of learning, experimenting, and creating something new. And who knows where this little project will take me next? Maybe I’ll try to build other Spider-Bots from the game, or maybe I’ll come up with something completely original. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
