The Itsy Bitsy Electronic Spider

Mark Weller, a machinist technician at the McCoy School of Engineering, is proud to introduce Charlotte the electronic spider. Made of LEGOs and high density polyethelene, Charlotte can walk forward, backward, and turn in place. Weller named the electronic spider after the famous character in E. B. White's book Charlotte's Web at his wife's suggestion.

Charlotte started as an example to help freshman students in Introduction to Engineering understand the robotics section of the course. Weller was looking for project that went beyond simply assembling a LEGO set and sticking an engine in it. "I wanted something that teaches mechanics, not just electronics," he said. "Something that would get them thinking about how to solve mechanical problems."

Charlotte does just that. To move all of the leg joints in Charlotte individually would take 18 separate motors. Charlotte moves with only four thanks to a linked leg design patented by Joe Klann. Two engines move the legs forward and backward and two provide the torque needed to turn.

Weller hopes that upcoming classes of Introduction to Engineering students will be able to build their own spiders. Not only do students learn about Klann's design, they also have the machinist and construction practice of cutting out the legs and assembling the linked joints. Weller also sees applications for Charlotte in the third-year course Dynamics of Machines.

To see video footage of Charlotte in action click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC2nGqo6PM0&feature=player_embedded