From “The Terminator” to “Transformers,” it’s becoming pretty clear that the end of the world will involve robots – lots of robots. And what better way to populate these apocalyptic forces than with the power of 3D printing? This technology has already become a hallmark of our advancing world, allowing us access to products like never before. Sometimes the result is innocent, such as the 3D printing of rubber ducks in China. Other times it’s more serious, such as the case of 3D gun production. But in the case of Robugtix.com, a facet of Amoeba Robots Ltd., 3D production goes hand in hand with one of the world’s most common household fears: spiders.
Robugtix has created a bio-inspired 3D printed robot spider called the T8, and if you watch the video and squint a little, you might not realize it’s a robot. The black spider-bot is unnervingly lifelike, with 26 motors (three in each leg and two in the abdomen), giving its movements fluidity and independence. The motors are run by the Bigfoot Inverse Kinematics Engine, which handles all math theory and computations in making the spider move smoothly.
The body translates along the X, Y and Z axes, with body rotation pitch-roll-yaw. Communication for the spider’s movements between the operator, engine and robot is conducted over the wireless XBee controller; however, XBee is sold separately from the robot itself, so without it the robot would need to be pre-programmed for motion rather than performing in real time.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, for those with arachnophobia among us) this caliber of 3D printing doesn’t come cheap. The T8 costs a hefty $1,350 even with a preorder discount, and the XBee controller an additional $85. Small price to pay for this level of fear-inducing fun? You decide.
3D printing has certainly made long and rapid strides in the technology market, and certainly arguments can and should be made for its value in society. But when it comes to arachnids, the utility might be questionable. Nonetheless, the T8 speaks to the potential 3D printing still holds to mass-produce lifelike replications of everyday things. Just make sure you have a hiding place ready for the Robopocalypse, in case the T8 turns out to be leading the charge.
