Caterpillar Robot

thingiverse

This caterpillar track marks the beginning of designing and building a printable mobile robot. Once completed, the robot will feature four of these modules, though other designs are possible. A single caterpillar can function as a basic robot that moves forward and backward; two modules can form a tank-like machine, etc. Designed to work with a Futaba 3003 servo (modified for continuous rotation), the track utilizes O-rings for transmission and caterpillar components. Transmission O-ring dimensions are 3mm thickness and 60mm diameter, while caterpillar O-rings measure 3mm thickness and 124mm diameter. The O-ring system was chosen due to ease of prototyping; however, future revisions will swap it for a "solid" rubber track. Missing reinforcement parts are visible in images of the printed robot at the bottom of the page, with updated pictures promised upon modification. Videos showcasing the robot's functionality can be found here and here. An update (17/4/2011) includes an HD artistic rendition of the UniTrack created by Hasier Goitia, with more images and videos expected after the Easter Break. Assembly instructions are provided: use 3M nuts and bolts for secure connection, and Lego axles can be used for front and back wheels. The openscad file is included, but be cautious as it may not be fully parametric due to the project's early stages.