Lobsterbot - a simple LM386 based robot

Quite some time ago I built a Herbie Junkbot mouse. I liked the simplicity of the op-amp chip and the relay to determine motor direction. I was also looking at six-legged robots. The original lego site with the leg layout has since disappeared. Here is the closest site I can find now.

The design can also be seen in the six-legged kit addition to the Boe-Bot. Jameco and others carry the kit. There's just something about a multi-legged robot that is so cool!

So I decided to combine the Herbie brain with the Boe-Bot six-legged body and throw in feelers.

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Step 1: The chassis

First, I played around with the leg layout. I made body and leg pieces from cardboard and attached them together with brass brads to test how the legs would work.

When I was happy with the mockup, I cut aluminum side panels from 5052 aluminum. I think it's 1/8 inch thick.

Then I used pieces of flat brass to make the leg pieces.

#6 bolts 1 1/2 inches long made the longest pivot points for the legs. Looking at the top view you can see that I used other lengths of #6 bolts.

I added lengths of brass tubing over the bolts to hold the body away from the leg joints. When I got the legs aligned correctly, I used loctite to keep the bolts and nuts from loosening during walking.

r570sv says: Aug 23, 2012. 6:07 PM

Good job!

TIAudioGuy says: Aug 13, 2012. 3:10 PM

Very creative use of the low voltage LM386 from TI! Typically I have seen this type of robot powered by the MSP430 or similar micro. It's very refreshing to see simple logic in place of a full micro-controller. My coworkers and I look forward to seeing some of your other projects. Great work, @techiebot!

-Adam Sidelsky, Audio Test Development, Texas Instruments.