Its built around Jon Hylands’ Microraptor, both he and I have built AX-12 based smaller versions of this same leg design and it works rather well. We’ve both had it walking and walking well.
It does not use a standard humanoid walking gait, hence the difference in COG placement and wider stance. Feet are actually 5" wide and 7" long, they just appear small due to the perspective. Proportionally they are just about the same size as the bioloid feet. Also, the way its standing in the pictures isn’t a proper stance, the legs are much more upright while walking.
This type of setup would not work well in say, RoboOne style competitions however. Its not intended to take physical hits and relies on a higher COG to walk well.
Just for show you may want to get a laser pointer for each airsoft so it can be energized prior to shooting to point the intended target. One can get the small laser pointers at Walmart for $2.49 each.
OMG! This thing is cool! I love the look of the leg folded up, it looks brutally tough. The brackets are incredible, how or who made them? What did you use to design these parts? Alibre?
I designed all of the brackets in Autodesk Inventor and had them machined at Big Blue Saw (bigbluesaw.com). They used a water jet cnc and brake to cut and bend.
I’m saving the majority of the info for a series of articles I’m writing on the robot for SERVO. Check the upcoming June issue
I was thinking you could put RC shocks between the joints to help the servos with the weight of the torso assembly. The same way you used an RC shock for your J5 project. This would improve the aesthetics while help the servos a bit. Just a thought.
I considered it but didn’t go that route for two reasons. First, it would limit movement on each joint. Second, these servos are pulling about 1050 oz-in of torque @ 21v, I doubt they need much help.
I realize that standard RC shocks would have a limited stroke, but if you created your own spring dampener assembly, it could have any range of movement you desire. With the length of the legs I would think there would be a lot of bouncing going on.
Thanks for the quick response and info. Much appreciated.
I am building a 4WD rover that will have twin Air Soft BB guns mounted on a turret that can move in AZ and EL. We have a lot of rabid sunks in North Texas and I will use the rover to drive them off without having to kill them.
You would not believe how many videos and articles are on the web concerning building your own flame thrower some of which are military quality!
The best of “how to” make your own flame thrower was on UTube. The guy had built a backpack set up that could shoot a stream of jellied gasoline thirty feet much like the flame throwers used in WWII.
My rover scale flame thrower is rather modest in size. It can propel an 1/8 dia stream of concentrated windshield washer fluid, which is very flammable, about 10 feet using 100 lb compressed air.
If you build the pressurization and flammable liquid storage system correctly there is only a remote chance of an accident.
You can get quality model size air storage and distribution systems from Robart (robart.com/) and the flammable liquid, concentrated (waterless) windshield washer fluid, can be purchased at any automotive store. A pressurizable storage tank can be made out of schedule 40 PVC pipe and end caps which is usually good to 240psi. An electric arc can be used to ignite the mixture as it is sprayed from the storage tank. Some builders mix petroleum jelly with the windshield washer fluid to make it stick on whatever it hits. That is way out of my league.
I only use the flame throw as a backup to the Airsoft BB cannons. If the skunk does attack the rover then I have no choice but to flame him. I know that it is a tough way to go, but when the skunk is usually rabid they are going to euthanize him anyway.