Spider Robot Six Legs With 18 Servos

The Spider Hexapod Robot Kit with 18 Servos is one of the most striking and capable hobbyist robots you can build. With its six articulated legs and three degrees of freedom per leg, this hexapod moves with natural, lifelike grace — capable of walking forward, backward, sideways, turning in place, and even shifting body height and orientation. It's a project that combines mechanical engineering, electronics, and software in one of the most rewarding ways possible for hobbyists.

Each of the six legs is driven by three MG996R metal-gear servos, giving the robot a total of 18 degrees of freedom. The MG996R is renowned in the RC and robotics community for its high torque (10 kg/cm), durable metal gearing, and reliable performance — making it an excellent choice for the demanding loads of a walking robot.

The kit ships as a mechanical assembly with all the structural parts and servos required to build the robot body. You will need to provide your own electronics (such as an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or dedicated servo controller like a PCA9685 16-channel PWM driver) and a suitable power source (typically a 5–7.2V high-current battery pack).

Once assembled and programmed, this hexapod becomes a versatile platform for robotics learning, inverse kinematics experiments, gait research, autonomous navigation, sensor integration, and just plain fun. Add a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi module for remote control, mount an ultrasonic sensor for obstacle avoidance, or add a camera for FPV operation — the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

This is quite possibly the nicest-looking, best-performing commercially available hexapod platform for hobbyists and educators alike.

What's in the Kit

• 18 × TowerPro MG996R Metal Gear Servos
• 6 × Robot Legs (with all required structural parts)
• 1 × Robot Body Chassis / Frame
• Servo Mounting Brackets and Hardware
• Screws, Nuts, and Mounting Accessories

Note: Electronics (controller, servo driver) and batteries are NOT included — you will need to source these separately based on your project requirements.

Specifications

Hexapod Platform

• Number of Legs: 6
• Degrees of Freedom per Leg: 3
• Total Degrees of Freedom: 18 DOF
• Total Servos Required: 18 × MG996R
• Movement Capability: Omnidirectional — walk in any direction
• Recommended Controller: Arduino with PCA9685 16-channel servo driver, Raspberry Pi, or dedicated hexapod controller

MG996R Servo

• Stall Torque: 10 kg/cm (some versions rated up to 13 kg/cm)
• Operating Speed: 0.2 sec / 60° (at 4.8V)
• Operating Voltage: 4.8V – 7.2V
• Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to +55°C
• Dead Band Width: 10 µs
• Motor Type: 3-pole ferrite motor
• Bearings: Dual ball bearings
• Gear Type: Metal gears (3 metal gears + 1 resin metal gear)
• Control Signal: Standard PWM (RC servo signal)
• Connector: Standard 3-pin servo (signal, V+, GND)

Recommended Add-Ons (Sold Separately)

To complete your hexapod build, you'll typically need:

• Microcontroller: Arduino Mega 2560 (recommended for 18 servos) or Raspberry Pi
• Servo Driver: PCA9685 16-Channel I2C PWM driver (you'll need 2 for full 18-servo control, or use additional PWM pins)
• Power Supply: High-current 6V battery pack (e.g., 6V 5500mAh NiMH) or 2S LiPo with BEC
• Wireless Module: Bluetooth (HC-05), Wi-Fi (ESP32), or RF for remote control
• Sensors: Ultrasonic, IR, IMU, or camera modules for autonomous operation

Applications

• Robotics Education – University, technical school, and STEM lab projects
• Inverse Kinematics Research – Real-world platform for IK algorithm development
• Gait Programming – Experiment with tripod, wave, and ripple walking patterns
• Autonomous Navigation – Add sensors and AI for obstacle-avoiding robots
• Search & Rescue Prototypes – Multi-legged platforms can navigate uneven terrain
• Maker & Hobbyist Projects – Impressive showcase robot for makerspaces
• Competition & Robotics Clubs – Build for hexapod competitions and demonstrations
• AI & Machine Learning – Real-world platform for reinforcement learning experiments
• Cinematography & Animation – Reference for biomimetic and sci-fi robot designs
• Remote-Controlled Robotics – Build a Bluetooth or RC-controlled walking robot
• FPV Robotics – Mount a camera for first-person robotic exploration