Prototype 1 Presentation_ Jan And Gia

Gia Leon and Jan Fernandez

Our innovation creature is the caterpillar. We are trying to mimic the motion it follows while climbing. So far we have cut out small boxlike figures to represent spiracles(which are the balloon like spheres the caterpillar body has). We have three main ones with two sets of legs. The legs work like scissors. They have a connecting joint through the upper section that allows the two claw like arms to bend toward each other. For a caterpillar these can be called prolegs and they offer balance and grip to them. They can grab so hard that they will snap off. Good thing prolegs aren't permanent anyway. We were going to implement a string into the design in order to be able to pull on one end to create a tension for movement. Our design is a bit flawed though. We my end up needed more than three servos and our metal rod isn't flexible. We have not tested our prototype so therefore, it is just a model. It is more of just how the basic animal will look like in cardboard form, with some idea to the movement. We didn't think that the prototype was going to do much. It is just a prototype. Since we didn't expect much I think it met our standards. I think we will keep the cubes as the body and the pincer shape for the body. We might change the movement on our second prototype. Instead of it crunching and releasing, it will have caterpillar tracks. It is like the wheels of tanks. So the main body may become more spherical but it's yet to be determined. The pincers will be there for support to the weight. Especially since we have to have it climb they can hold on to ensure it won't fall straight off. We're exploring the movement of the caterpillar obviously. We will explore the motors next and how they work. It needs to be able to move without us touching it, so the motor will move the tank tracks.  

Video

David Li
IMG_0456.MOV