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How I Built an Arduino Nano Spider Robot (Step-by-Step DIY Guide)

Introduction

Imagine a spider crawling across your desk—not a real one, but a robotic spider powered by an Arduino Nano and servo motors. That’s exactly what I built: a DIY Spider Robot that moves its legs like a real arachnid. This project is perfect for anyone interested in Arduino, robotics, or 3D printing. In this article, I’ll share my journey of building it step by step, so you can make your own spider robot too.



Why a Spider Robot?

There are tons of arduino-based robots out there cars, arms, and drones-but spiders are unique because:
  • They walk on multiple legs, requiring careful servo coordination.
  • They mimic real insect motion, which is fascinating to watch.
  • They teach robotics balance & gait control in a fun way.

Components & Tools You 'II Need

Here's the list of parts I used:
  • Arduino nano – the brain of the spider
  • 8x micro servo motors (sg90) – one for each joint
  • Power source – li-ion battery pack or usb supply
  • 3d-printed body parts (or you can use cardboard/acrylic if no printer)
  • Jumper wires & breadboard
  • Screw set, glue, and small tools




Step1: Designing & Building the Spider Body

I started by designing the spider body. The frame holds all the servos and gives the robot stability.


  • The center body holds the Arduino Nano and battery.

  • Each leg has two joints: one for up/down movement and one for forward/backward.

  • I used 3D printing for the body parts, but you can also cut them from lightweight cardboard or acrylic sheets.


Step 2: Designing and Printing 3D Parts


  • Designing & Building the Spider Body 


Step 3: Attaching the Servo Motors

The spider uses 8 servo motors—two for each of the four legs.


  • Servo 1: Lifts the leg up/down

  • Servo 2: Moves the leg forward/backward


Tip: Before mounting, calibrate each servo to its neutral (90°) position using Arduino, so the legs align properly later.


Step 4: Wiring the Electronics

Next I wired all servo to the Arduino Nano

  • Servo signal pins go to Arduino D2–D9
  • Servo VCC to 5V (use an external supply if needed)
  • Servo GND to Arduino GND


Step 5: Programming the Arduino Nano

This is where the fun begins! The Arduino Nano controls all servos to move in a walking gait. Here’s a basic code snippet I used for leg movement:



#include <Servo.h>

Servo leg1_up, leg1_fwd;
Servo leg2_up, leg2_fwd;

void setup() {
leg1_up.attach(2);
leg1_fwd.attach(3);
leg2_up.attach(4);
leg2_fwd.attach(5);
}

void loop() {
// Simple walking motion
leg1_up.write(60); // Lift leg
leg1_fwd.write(120); // Move forward
delay(500);
leg1_up.write(90); // Lower leg
leg1_fwd.write(90); // Reset
delay(500);
}


(You can expand this to control all 8 servos for a full walking cycle.)

Step 6: Testing & Adjusting the Motion

At first, the robot didn’t walk smoothly—it staggered. So I:


  • Adjusted servo angles for balance

  • Synced opposite legs (like real spiders do)

  • Tuned the delays for smoother movement


Challenges I Faced

  • Power: 8 servos drain a lot of current—so a good battery pack is essential.

  • Calibration: If even one servo is slightly off, the gait looks unnatural.

  • Weight: The body must be light; otherwise, the servos struggle.

Final Results

After fine-tuning, the spider robot finally crawled forward smoothly! Watching it move like a real insect was very satisfying.


What’s Next?

Some ideas to improve this spider robot:

  • Add bluetooth control using hc-05
  • Use ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection
  • Add voice commands for fun interaction

Conclusion

Building this arduino spider robot was more than just a project—it was a learning journey in robotic, servo control, and creativity. If you’re looking for a challenging yet fun diy, I highly recommend trying it out.

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