Theo Jansen style robot leg: prototype #1

By rik
2008-10-15 18:38

For my dreamed symbiotic robots, I am looking for an alternative locomotion. For the passive robot (the trailer) anyway. The active tractor probably needs tracks. I heard Theo Jansen say on TED (improving on the wheel, 4 minutes into the video) that his design for a legged creature is (theoretically) more energy efficient than wheels or tracks. And equally sufficient in rough terrain. So I'll give it a try.

Yes, it is made from the same rapid protoyping material PBCB (pizza box card board) as my power coupling.

8ik

PS: continued here.

Embedded video:

rik's blog
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By fritsl @ Wed, 2008-10-15 18:53

Wow, smooth!We should

Wow, smooth!

We should cooperate, I'm making jumping bots.. How could your system be made with solid materials, easily, I wonder..

By rik @ Wed, 2008-10-15 18:58

thanks

I discovered that some of the links in the parallellogram tend to bend and jump. Acting as springs. They could be tuned do do jumps, I reckon. Small ones at least.

I spent quite some time finding the relative dimensions of these members which Jansen calls the 11 holy numbers. Maybe I am guilty of sacrilege? Anyway, some youtubers published detailed films, but still without actual numbers. So I kludged these together, guessing that symmetry would make for a good start.

8ik

By fritsl @ Fri, 2008-10-17 19:08

FYI Jansen later realized

FYI Jansen later realized that there are 12 holy numbers.

And of course there is.

The universe is made of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 acording to a theory that I have not yet published. But these are the magic / holy numbers for all things natural and complete; They make everything work.

I hate the 10-digit system, it is so ugly and irelevant.

By rik @ Fri, 2008-10-17 19:43

twelve's theory

I tried to go with 12 in my dimensions. But that stupid idiot Pythagore/Pythagoras got in the way.

8-p

By fritsl @ Fri, 2008-10-17 20:36

I am sure he didnt. He just

I am sure he didnt. He just worked with the 10-digit system, you should translate!

By BaseOverApex @ Sat, 2008-10-18 17:57

Don't be so hasty

I don't know. I'm quite partial to 16 and 360.

By BaseOverApex @ Wed, 2008-10-15 19:57

Polymorph

There's your answer. I've used flattened sheets of polymorph as springs before. It works really well and I think it would be perfect for this project because you can make a lot of flat sheets, then just warm them up and press them together to form the part. NO GLUE!

By Nicola @ Thu, 2008-10-16 07:34

wow, inspiring :P i have to

wow, inspiring :P

i have to make one of those legs myself :P

By maneuver @ Tue, 2008-12-30 14:24

/ vzz-clck-"Maneuver"

/ vzz-clck-"Maneuver"

By rik @ Tue, 2008-12-30 14:33

that is fast!

can't beat lego with cardboard...

you know what this means right?

By maneuver @ Tue, 2008-12-30 14:44

err... no? /

err... no?

/ vzz-clck-"Maneuver"

ps. posted video in the new blogpost

By rik @ Tue, 2008-12-30 15:03

video!

duh!

but you knew that