Spider Robots

Using a combination of biological data and digital design, Gigi Smith, Taryn Varnes, and I developed a robot that draws on a page based on live data output. To begin the design, we developed microphones to develop a mechanomyogram (MMG): “mechanical signal observable from the surface of a muscle when the muscle is contracted.” Using a microphone, microphone cable, coin cell battery, GLS audio jack, hookup wire, silver, and shrink wrap, we developed microphones to pick up MMG sounds and process them through a MAX patcher. With the MAX patcher and a coded Arduino board, we were able to connect the sound output from the sensors to the remote control of the robots. The sensor placed on the right arm moves the robot forward the sensor on the left arm moves the robot backward, and the sensor placed on the temple controls the head turning and direction of the robot.

Using our own biological muscle data created by movement at the joints, we were able to transcode that data to control the movement of a robot. To further emphasize the movement of the robot, we chose to attach markers to the legs of the robots, which then gave the robots the ability to draw based on the muscle movement.