Moonwalker
Harvard University, 2023
Moonwalker is a cyber-punk disco robot designed to groove like a caterpillar. It is the origami lovechild of the desert worm from Dune and a disco ball. Its bio-inspired design interrogates the relationship between organic and synthetic in a kinetic collage of form and motion.
The robot's body comprises a series of prismatic segments connected by flexible joints allowing it to move and bend in a fluid motion. Its outer layer is made of two-way mirror film, giving it the allure of a disco ball. Inside, an LED strip lights up in a dynamic rainbow pattern, transpiring through the mirror layer.
Moonwalker was built as a final project for the Informal Robotics class taught by Chuck Hoberman at Harvard University. The class was developed jointly by the Graduate School of Design (GSD) and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
Moonwalker's locomotion system is based on the undulating movement of a caterpillar, with each segment of the body moving in a synchronized motion. It is activated by a series of three servo motors connected by rack and pinion mechanisms. This movement pattern is based on the alternating expansion and contraction of three independent structures. As a result, Moonwalker breathes light and sound as it crawls forward.
An asymmetric edge design and a series of spikes enhancing ground adherence accentuate the robot's movement. In each cycle, the robot is able to crawl half an inch forward. The ratio between rack and pinion movement and ground movement is roughly 2:1. The system is controlled by an Arduino Nano and is powered by a Lithium Polymer battery connected to an external charging unit. The body was built using a laminate technique overlaying acrylic with double-sided tape and mirror film.
