Rapid Prototyping of Dmitri, a Hexapod Robot

Dmitri is a hexapod robot designed to explore biologically influenced behaviors, manufactured using 3D printing. The use of 3D printing results in not only rapid turnaround time of the physical components, but helps to evaluate software or simulation. Biologically inspired robots may involve complex shapes to correctly mimic biology, and such designs are only economically feasible through the use of 3D printing. Rapid prototyping of software also works in a symbiotic relationship with the mechanical design, so an iterative process may change based on the evaluation of the complete electromechanical system. Presented is the rapid prototyping methods used to develop Dmitri in both hardware and software. Artifacts and considerations using 3D printing in robotics is also discussed.