I agree, the overall design may seem like overkill but I deffinately think its neccessary to provide complete control of balance over very rouch terraine. What you have done to this biped is bassically made a suspension system keeping the biped walking smoothly over rough terraine. Its a great improvement to any kind of biped leg design I have seen. Keep it up, I would like to see this design become a real robot.
I agree. The tubed I had in the leg before made Mega Scout too unweildy and too tall.
I originally set out to design a leg that could walk any way I wanted it to - as a multipod or humanoid. I can indeed use the upper segmet of the leg (the multipod segment) as a suspension for the humanoid segment of the leg.
Thanks.
I didn’t set out to improve biped the leg design, but if that’s what I end up doing, so be it. 
Mega Scout will become a real robot. Version 2.o will be easier and less expensive to build as far as brackets go.
8-Dale
Sounds good to me!
How about a drawing showing the bot appropriately blanced on one foot as it would be when taking a step.
Yes, it certainly is, and less than half the price for Alibre Design Expert (which I am purchasing). Alibre will let you pay in 12 installments - no credit checks.
You’ve seen what I have been able to do with Alibre Design… I have not been using it that long - just a couple months to learn what I have learned so far without anything but the four training CDs.
8-Dale
I’d like to do that, but my computer is not fast enough and doesn’t have enough memory to allow me to position the model the way I want to.
I would have Mega Scout go into a full crouch, lean towards the opposite leg, use the multipod mode to rotate the stepping leg forward, and then extend the biped segment to finish the step. This would allow a longer extension of the leg and therefore a longer step. Repeat with other leg, and there you have Mega Scout walking. The key is for Mega Scout to get as low to the ground as possible before taking a step.
8-Dale
Just in case I need them, I did design two new 2DOF wide footpad feet for Mega Scout. They attach to the bot a bit differently, but that is an easy adjustment to make.
Right Foot:
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/foot-wide-right-side.jpg
Left Foot:
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/foot-wide-left-side.jpg
These feet should be plenty wide enough, if I need to use them.
8-Dale
Heck if it doesn’t work at all you can dissassemble it and build 17 other robots with the parts. 
Ha ha, yes, perhaps that would work if Mega Scout isn’t successful… 
Hey, I have reduced the parts count for Mega Scout significantly since my first design. Of course, if I have to use the wider feet, that will add some of the weight I saved back onto the bot. 
I think in some cases, my designs are pushing the envelope in what the SES can be used to build.
I need an L bracket that has the long side just about 1/4 inch longer, and an ASB-18 that is as long as the long side of the L bracket I need, or just long enough for two SES hole patterns. These are the only things missing to allow me to do everything I would like to do with the SES.
8-Dale
your out of control!! 
Youve gone DOF crazy!! 
But your ideas are brilliant!
Ha ha and thanks! Actually, the wide feet don’t add any additional DOF to the leg. They just replace the existing feet.
8-Dale
Since I designed a new wide foot, I figured I may as well see how it looks on Mega Scout. I have to use a slightly different method to attach the wide foot to Mega Scout.
This new wide foot throws everything out of whack from what it was with the other foot. The entire mechanics of walking is going to be very different with the wide foot if I can get two of the new legs attached to Mega Scout’s body without the feet tripping over each other to walk.
Of course, there will be pictures as soon as I figure out the mechanics of how Mega Scout will walk with the new legs/feet combination.
8-Dale
ahh, what was once fuzzy is not clear!
since ur cad,in away figureout how i can make some feet like my macaw,there about as allpurpose as anthing iv,e seen,
PS if you build that bot Jims gonna retire 8)
I would not have any idea how to do what you want, sorry. I use all pre-made parts and only design new ones when I have to fix something or need another part.
Ha ha, Jim wouldn’t retire. He might faint if I manage to actually build Mega Scout and make it walk without falling down… I am almost finished making the model for Mega Scout v3 with the wide feet.
8-Dale
Here are the first pictures of Mega Scout v3.0 with the new wide feet. I actually like this configuration and this may become the final version of Mega Scout that I build. The legs are still 8DOF, so the number of servos required is the same.
Mega Scout v3.0 (Front):
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/megascout-v3-front.jpg
Side:
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/megascout-v3-side.jpg
The range of motion, even with the 180 degree restriction, of Mega Scout is simply amazing. The more I work with the model to get different positions, the more I am amazed at the range of motion Mega Scout v3.0 has.
There are many places I can mount various types of sensors on Mega Scout too. This was one of my design goals when I decided to do this. I wanted a biped that can carry many sensors, and Mega Scout is that biped hybrid.
8-Dale
I orders some brackets for Mega Scout v3.0 today. These brackets, plus some from Junior, will get the legs build as far down as the dual inline brackets. Next month I will have a few servos to start making it move a bit.
8-Dale
I am building Mega Scout v3.0. I have ordered the first set of brackets which will take construction to at least the dual inline brackets of both legs. Next month, I will have six HS-5645 digital servos, which will complete the first three joints of each leg (the 3DOF multipod segment). 
I’ve also got a tentative design for the battery holders, but have not decided how to best mount the electronics.
See Mega Scout v3.0 (Front):
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/megascout-v3-front.jpg
Side:
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/megascout-v3-side.jpg
Back:
http://www.thedynaplex.org/robotics/bipeds/megascout/img/megascout-v3-back.jpg
This view shows the battery holders and modification to the sensor turret to make sure it can rotate fully and clear the batteries. I may try a vertical mount for the batteries, which could make it easier to mount the electronics.
Thanks to Mike Thompson on the Open Servo forum, I have found a nice gyro/accelerometer module that Sparkfun sells. This would be perfect for any robot requiring balance and positional information, including arms.
8-Dale
I was surprised yesterday and early this morning when I realized I have more brackets than I thought I had for constructing Mega Scout. I took my BRAT apart and used a few other brackets I had left over.
I now have the first three joints of both legs constructed and attached to the 3" U channel body. I’ve also changed the long “C” brackets attached to these joints to short “C” brackets because those are what I happen to have here. I have changed the 3D CAD model of Mega Scout to reflect the bracket changes.
8-Dale
Looks good as always. Excellent Job.