Spider Mite Development

Spider Mite Development

In a tribute to the Spider Mite’s Retirement, I wanted to share some photos of the early product development process,

After Developing a “Features List” for the Spider Including: 4WD, Rechargeable Electric, Low Center of Gravity, Off Road Capable, Wireless Control and an On-Board FPV System, I made design changes to the chassis. I increased the torque, upgraded the suspension and dropped the front end to give it a more aggressive angle of attack.

Experimenting with various pan tilt mechanisms and cameras, I soon settled on a standard servo controlled pan tilt and a 750 Line Camera. This would allow the operator to “Look Around” inside these Hazardous Environments and provide a “Virtual Experience”. Once the basic components were installed, I would wrap them in a steel-roll cage. I chose a design based on a “Dune Buggy” for its protection and “looks”. I mocked-up the roll-cage in cardboard and fabricated it from 3/16” steel. The design evolved over the years but the Basic Spider Mite was born.