Page 184 - Amphibionics : Build Your Own Biologically Inspired Robot

Amphibionics 05 3/24/03 8:44 AM Page 163
Chapter 5 / Serpentronic: Build Your Own Robotic Snake
FIGURE 5.56
Mode select controller
board connection
diagram.

To give the snake added friction when moving, rubber gripper
pieces can be added to the underside of the snake’s body. If you
decide not to add the rubber pieces, the robot will still function
properly, but will not move as easily on slippery surfaces like car-
pet. Any sort of rubber nonslip pieces that you can find at a hard-
ware store will be suitable. The ones that I used have a sticky back
and were meant for the bottom of Sun System computers to stop
them from slipping on a desktop. Figure 5.57 shows the positions
that worked well for me. Make sure that the movement of each
body segment is not hindered by the rubber gripper pieces.

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