Other robot dog(s)
Posted August 22, 2007 by kym
2 Comments »
Ash was asking about robot dog-type platforms.
Here’s another idea. Some of the better kits allow you to make up fairly good quads. I have a couple of these kits on order, but they haven’t turned up yet. About $1K USD per. But the results may be worth it.
I’ve appended 1 doggie video allegedly made from the std "comprehensive" Robotis Biploid kit.
Cool, I haven’t seen that vid before
The Robotis stuff looks pretty cool actually. Sort of like the next evolution of my Lego Technic stuff (Vid will be up soon).
Murray (RobotsAustralia) is actually using the Dynamixel servos used by Robotis as the basis of his robot quadruped project and according to the info on his site has developed a custom driver board for them.
From what I remember the servos have positional feedback as well as strain (i think) and temp sensing which seems awesome for the price of the cheaper one (AX 12 I think).
I almost bit the bullet and bought a Robotis kit a couple of months ago but now my aim is to build the simplest platform I can using my shiny new Dremel. So basically I am going to cut up bits of plastic and put my new Arduino on it with some servos and see where we go from there.
Ok, so it is just an excuse to cut stuff up with my Dremel
Some of the cooler features of the Robotis kits include
the ability to query the servos for position, voltage and temperature.
Over on the web site they have a whole heap of vids, incl spider-like hexapods, dino-bots, wheeled thingos — all made with their kits: basically a controller with positions for 6 control points. Since the servos live on a serial bus, each position can chain off a whole heap of servos along limbs or whatnot.