Robots are some of the most popular subjects in this here HWZ blog, and example like this, this, or this only prove that there’s a robot in the future for all of us. Along that thread of thought, we can then surmise that there will be many types of robots for many kinds of people, and this blog entry shows a robot that’s perfect for people who like them creepy: enter the MSR-101 Hexapod.

Made by robot builder Matt Denton and apparently the result of a one-off he built, the Hexapod is a six-legged, arachnid-like piece of kit complete with the skittering, insectile walk that so many people find so off-putting. Magnify that creepy feeling by approximately the size difference between a regular old jumping spider (around 3 mm) and a spider the size of a house cat, and you get the picture.

                                             The Hexapod with its optional pan & Tilt head.

Creepy or not, the Hexapod is still a very cool piece of robotic tech with over a dozen servos (all robotic builders and geeks love servos!), appropriately cryptic descriptions (…top body plate has mounting holes for a p.Brain-SMB or SSC32 controller.) – and no actual, practical usage except as a hobby kit or for furthering robot-build ideas. This is not to say that the kit is pointless of course (respect to Matt Denton!), but you need to be a very dedicated hobbyist to front the time and cost of completing this kit.

                                             Just some of the parts required to build up the kit.From top: servos, control boards, and RS232 cable for programming.

Other than the mounting plates, fasteners, body and leg plates, the kit also requires servos, electronics, batteries and other miscellaneous stuff, as well as lots of free time to complete. Be that as it may, a complete walking spider, with servos whirring and grinding away, sure is a huge satisfaction to behold especially if it’s self-built! Hopefully we will soon see real jumping robotic spiders with real fangs and clawas for legs – now that would be the perfect creepy crawler for the home and for scaring the bejeebus out of your in-laws.

(Original site here: http://www.hexapodrobot.com/products/robots/Hexapod_MSR-H01.html)

                                             Nature's version. (above is a male jumping spider. Photo courtesy of Matt Cole on Flickr).