Mechanical · Automobile engineering · Final year project
8 Leg Spider Robot Using Theo Jansen Linkage
A walking robot that uses Theo Jansen linkages to turn rotary motion into a natural, animal-like stride. Two motors drive gear sets that move eight legs in sync, and a wireless remote steers it, making it a good study of linkage design and gait.
What is the 8 Leg Spider Robot Using Theo Jansen Linkage project?
A walking robot that uses Theo Jansen linkages to turn rotary motion into a natural, animal-like stride. Two motors drive gear sets that move eight legs in sync, and a wireless remote steers it, making it a good study of linkage design and gait.
Key facts
- Branch
- Mechanical & Automobile Engineering; also suits Mechatronics
- Type
- Final year project · Advanced
- Suitable for
- Diploma capstone and B.E / B.Tech final year
- Build time
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Estimated component cost
- ₹11,600 – ₹17,100
- Guidance from
- ₹9,999 (Hardware / IoT Final Year)
How the 8 Leg Spider Robot Using Theo Jansen Linkage works
- The mild steel frame and fabrication forms the base that carries every other part, so it is designed first from the load and size of the machine.
- The DC geared motor provides the driving motion.
- The Motor driver lets the low-current controller run the motors forward, reverse and at variable speed.
- Motion is transmitted through DC geared motor, gears / rack and pinion, shafts and linkages, cam and lever parts, which set the speed, torque and direction at the working end.
- The Wheels / castor wheels allow the machine or vehicle to move.
- The ATmega328P microcontroller with base board is the brain of the circuit: it samples the sensors, compares readings with set limits and switches the outputs.
- The Push buttons and switches provide manual inputs and the power switch.
- The 433 MHz RF transmitter-receiver pair sends the remote's button press wirelessly to the receiver circuit.
Block diagram
Power
DC geared motorMotor driverTransmission
DC geared motorGears / rack and pinionShafts (machined)Working unit
Linkages, cam and lever partsWheels / castor wheelsStructure
Frame and mountsComponents list and cost
Typical prices from Indian online stores and electronics markets (Lamington Road, Budhwar Peth, SP Road). Buy from one store where you can to save on shipping.
| Component | Qty | What it does | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATmega328P microcontroller with base board | 1 | Is the brain of the circuit: it samples the sensors, compares readings with set limits and switches the outputs. | ₹350 |
| Push buttons and switches | 1 | Provide manual inputs and the power switch. | ₹40 |
| 433 MHz RF transmitter-receiver pair | 1 | Sends the remote's button press wirelessly to the receiver circuit. | ₹150 |
| DC geared motor | 2 | Provides the driving motion. | ₹500 |
| Motor driver (L298N) | 1 | Lets the low-current controller run the motors forward, reverse and at variable speed. | ₹180 |
| LEDs (assorted) | 1 | Indicate status. | ₹20 |
| Gears / rack and pinion | 1 | Transfer motion and change speed or torque. | ₹500 |
| Shafts (machined) | 1 | Transmit rotation and torque. | ₹400 |
| Linkages, cam and lever parts | 1 | Convert one type of motion into another. | ₹400 |
| Ball bearings with housing | 1 | Support rotating shafts with low friction. | ₹250 |
| Mild steel frame and fabrication | 1 | Forms the main structure that holds all parts. | ₹2,500 |
| Robot chassis (metal / acrylic) | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,100 |
| Wheels / castor wheels | 4 | Allow the machine or vehicle to move. | ₹1,600 |
| Li-ion battery pack (18650 × 3, 11.1 V) with BMS | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,400 |
| Welding, cutting and machining labour | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹2,200 |
| Spider Legs | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Leg Joints | 1 | Part from the design specification | ₹400* |
| Mounts, screws, nuts and small hardware | 1 | Enclosure, mounts and fasteners. | ₹300 |
| Paint, finishing and workshop consumables | 1 | Project overhead | ₹600 |
| Transport of material | 1 | Project overhead | ₹400 |
| Estimated total | Varies with brand, quality and city | ₹11,600 – ₹17,100 |
Prices are estimates for budgeting; items marked * depend on the exact size or model chosen. We confirm the bill of materials when your design is frozen, and components are charged at actual cost with bills.
How much does this project cost?
| Option | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Components only | You buy the parts and build it yourself | ₹11,600 – ₹17,100 |
| Hardware / IoT Final Year | Working model or guided build, Circuit diagram and bill of materials, Firmware / code with explanation | from ₹9,999 + components |
| Capstone Project (CPE) | Working project or model, Black book in MSBTE format, Step-by-step explanation | ₹9,999 + components |
| Diploma ITR | 100% working source code, Project report PDF, PPT | ₹1,999 + components |
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Download the project brief (PDF)
Summary, working, components and cost and viva questions on one branded PDF to show your guide or team. To get it developed, contact us on WhatsApp.
What you submit with this project
- Working model with circuit diagram and program code
- Project report or black book in your university's chapter order (block diagram, circuit, calculations, results)
- Presentation for the review and final viva
- Synopsis for topic approval, if your college asks for one
Mechanical viva questions on this project
What is the aim of the 8 Leg Spider Robot Using Theo Jansen Linkage project?
A walking robot that uses Theo Jansen linkages to turn rotary motion into a natural, animal-like stride. Two motors drive gear sets that move eight legs in sync, and a wireless remote steers it, making it a good study of linkage design and gait.
Explain the working of your project in short.
The mild steel frame and fabrication forms the base that carries every other part, so it is designed first from the load and size of the machine. The DC geared motor provides the driving motion. The Motor driver lets the low-current controller run the motors forward, reverse and at variable speed. Motion is transmitted through DC geared motor, gears / rack and pinion, shafts and linkages, cam and lever parts, which set the speed, torque and direction at the working end.
Why is a microcontroller used in this project?
A microcontroller combines a CPU, memory and I/O pins on one chip, so a single low-cost IC can read sensors, make decisions in code and control loads without a computer.
Why is a pull-up resistor needed with a push button?
Without it the input pin floats and reads random values. The pull-up keeps it HIGH until the button connects it to ground.
Why are encoder and decoder ICs used with the RF module?
The HT12E encoder converts parallel button inputs into a serial code with an address, and the HT12D decoder on the receiver checks the address and restores the outputs. This prevents interference from other remotes.
Why is a geared motor used?
The gearbox reduces speed and multiplies torque, so a small DC motor can move a vehicle or mechanism smoothly. Torque increases roughly by the gear ratio.
Why can't the motor be connected directly to the microcontroller?
A motor needs far more current (hundreds of mA to amps) than a controller pin can supply (about 20–40 mA). The H-bridge driver switches the motor current and allows direction control.
Which material did you select for the main parts and why?
Mild steel (MS) is used for the frame because it is strong, cheap, easy to cut and weld and available everywhere. Shafts are made of EN8 or bright mild steel for strength, and parts that do not carry load can be aluminium or acrylic to reduce weight.
What factor of safety did you take in your design?
A factor of safety of 2 to 3 is taken for static parts and 3 to 5 for parts under shock or fatigue loading. Allowable stress = yield strength ÷ factor of safety, and each part is checked against it.
How did you estimate the cost of the project?
The cost is the sum of raw material, bought-out parts, machining or fabrication and overheads. Our estimate for this model is about ₹11,600 to ₹17,100, depending on size, material and the workshop rates in your city.
Which manufacturing processes were used?
Cutting and grinding of sections, arc or MIG welding of the frame, drilling for mounting holes, turning of the shafts and fitting of bearings and the drive, followed by assembly, alignment and painting.
Is your system open-loop or closed-loop?
Mainly open-loop: the controller runs the actuators for a set time or number of steps. Adding a sensor for feedback would make it closed-loop and more accurate.
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Want to build 8 Leg Spider Robot Using Theo Jansen Linkage?
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