The Mondo Spider

She’s a 1000kg mechanical spider (we’re told she’s the fastest walking machine on Earth, too). This ridable mechanical walking machine was designed by a team of artists and engineers as an industrial metal beast destined to rock Burningman and the world of kinetic sculpture.

Inspired by Vancouver Junkyard Wars, this giant hydraulic monster was hewn from steel with passion and precision. The Mondo Spider is a collaborative contemporary art project that challenges the dominant perception of locomotion, energy and power through the process of creating and exhibiting a 1,500lb 8-legged electro-mechanical walking vehicle.

Coupled with our 3kW solar array, Mondo Spider is regularly exhibited internationally with the aim of inspiring awe and wonder.

The big bug has been kicking around since 2006, but this is its first trip to the Consumer Electronic Show. Like a lot of Burning Man exhibitions, it was built for the joy of the build and with a rather extreme budget: $15,000.

~Ola