Check out a new quadruped coming out. G-Dog.
To be a kit from HPI Racing. It’s 14cm tall and 40cm long, has 9 servos. About $1000 this July. Video:
Alan KM6VV
That’s pretty awesome. Best looking quad I’ve seen. It’s not surprising though, HPI has always made really nice stuff.
I’d expect a lot more for a grand ;/
A 2dof quad isn’t anything special imo…
At first I thought it must be 3DOF, but after closer inspection it does appear to be 2DOF. That’s is a lot of dough for 8 servos. Maybe the price is wrong?
I finally figured out what he looks like. If you’re my age, you probably remember Ravage from the Transformers (he was a cassette tape):
seibertron.com/images/news/g … avage1.jpg
It is a nice looking kit though.
Yeah, that was initial reaction too! I though the thing looked just like Ravage! The aesthetic is pretty sleek on it, but having only two DOFs per leg is kinda of a let-down. I rather make a quadraped out of the LM’s brackets and tubing and use the black ano set…
Maybe once it’s released, you can buy the head for it!? Speaking of Transformers, has anyone seen the Bioloid-based transforming hummer on youtube.com?
The 'bot is quite agile, and practically life like. I haven’t seen a quad move like that since big dog. If it only has 2DOF per leg, and possibly having the legs mounted similarly to the other (French) dog I posted would be doable with SES. The demands on the servos should be less as well, as the legs are more vertical then a sprayed layout.
Yeah, I’d like to build something like it with SES parts.
Alan KM6VV
I think I understand why the price is so high… HPI is partnering with Futuba on robot development, and the new Futaba robot servos are quite expensive.
Futuba products are very high quality but over-priced IMHO.
Hi,
Very interesting quad! I’m impressed of what they accomplished with only 2 DOF. But it seems like it struggle a bit when turning, probably because of the limits of only 2 DOF.
Overall very good gait sequence and fast movements. Speed is probably the key when trying to make a quad walk with more than one leg lifted at ones.
I just have to say that I’m also in the “quad mode” for the time … 
Hi Zenta,
I agree, quite an accomplishment! And very fast moves. The expansion to 3DOF legs would probably improve the turning. But maybe slow down the IK.
That sounds like fun. I’m still playing with my simple Loki. No time for quads. 'Tho they keep distracting me!
Alan KM6VV
my hexy and humanoid takes up quite a bit of my time. if I didn’t have to work, I’d totally get into the HPI’s G-Dog. Unfortunately, my funding for my robot hobby comes from going to work…
Those Futaba servos are amazing, they are so quick… Even with 2DOFs per leg, that sucker reminded me of a greyhound. Aesthetically, it’s awesome too. Would be really cool to dress up a biped that looked like Soundwave from the Transformers and complement it with the G-Dog.
The Aibo was quite impressive but I’ve never seen it doing things what the G-Dog was doing…
Which Futaba servos are these?
Just gotta work out a way to make money on your hobby! I like hobbies that are self-sustaining. Only way I can afford them!
2DOF or 2DOF, that is the question! I do have a few cheap S3004 servos around, if they would run a 2DOF 'quad. It’s a place to start. I think we’d be hard pressed to come close to imitating G-DOG!
Alan KM6VV