The Robot Spiders Are Coming

Some people like to experiment with humanoid robots because they are well-suited for interacting with human environments and tools, while others prefer the stability of a quadrupedal robot dog. Then there are those who want to go in a different direction entirely — like Will from Dragline Dynamics, who is hoping that the next big thing will be robot spiders. If you can control your natural fear of creepy crawlies, you might find that these multi-legged machines offer unique advantages over their bipedal and quadrupedal counterparts.

In a recent update video, Will unveiled the latest version of Charlotte, a spider-inspired robot platform that has just been given some major mechanical and structural improvements. While it may look like a finished robot, Charlotte is currently better described as a highly customizable locomotion platform. The machine provides the frame, motors, legs, drivetrain, and power options, but leaves all of the computing and control hardware up to the builder.

To accommodate different use cases, Charlotte is now available in two body configurations. The battery version includes dedicated space for a LiPo battery. Because the battery sits at one end of the chassis, the drive motors have been moved to the opposite side to act as a counterweight and keep the robot balanced. This arrangement requires a slightly longer chassis, extending the body by roughly half an inch on each end.

The second option is a base configuration that omits the onboard battery compartment entirely. In this version, the motors are mounted in the center of the chassis where they naturally serve as the robot's center of mass. The design is also a bit more flexible for experimentation, featuring front and rear viewing windows intended for camera installations and other sensors.

Earlier versions of Charlotte relied heavily on flexure mechanisms, but the new design uses a hybrid arrangement that combines traditional pin joints with flexure joints. According to Will, this helps prevent the legs from twisting and deforming in unwanted directions during operation. The legs have also been lengthened to improve mobility on rough terrain while simultaneously being made thinner to reduce interference between neighboring legs.

Thanks to the unique design, if a leg breaks, it can be replaced without disassembling the entire robot. A small access panel secured by two screws allows the lower section of the leg to slide out, while the upper portion disconnects directly from the drivetrain socket.

The interior floor and mounting shelves are covered with M2 heat-set inserts arranged in a 5 mm grid. This creates a universal mounting system that allows users to install custom brackets, breakout boards, sensors, or entirely custom PCBs wherever they are needed.

To demonstrate the platform, Will installed a temporary radio control system consisting of a microcontroller, motor driver, wireless transceiver, and power-smoothing capacitor. The setup provided basic steering and movement control, giving makers an idea of what is possible with the robot. If you’d like to try out Charlotte for yourself, you can pick one up for $150.