Arachno-Bot is a printable spider robot built as an exploratory tool in environments that are too hazardous for humans. It gets its name because of its movement and look as a real spider. Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation in Stuttgart, Germany has developed Arachno by using a natural spider as the model for their robot, which they created through 3D printing.
Construction
Arachno-Bot has eight legs just like a real spider and are operated by hydraulics while elastic bellows drives serve as joints. It is created using 3D printing where thin layers of a fine powder are laid down, which are then melted in place with a laser beam. Layer by layer, the lightweight robot obtains its shape, with pneumatic leg joints that bend like the crinkled elbow in a drinking straw.