This forum is dedicated to the discussion of PC controlled robots, androids, robotics, and robot hobbyists.

jc_oob · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 51 Location: lake city florida

hi all

I've been designing an andriod (no intent to build very soon) but am having trouble with fitting all of the DOFs and their respective servos in the small space available; any tips?

roschler · Site Admin Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 220

jc_oob,

WowWee Toys International, the same company that distributes the Robsapien line of toys, is coming out with a full-fledged reasonably priced animatronic chimp head in 2006:

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/01/10/everybody_needs_an_a.html

It's going to be fully programmable and from what I've read, looks amazingly real. You might want to wait for it and then either just use it, or take it apart to get or learn what you need.

Thanks.
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Robert Oschler
Forum Administrator

jc_oob · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 51 Location: lake city florida

sorry i took so long to reply, but my andriod would have to be more-or-less human, but thanks anyway...

I was also wondering what to use for skin or wheather to not have skin at all (on the head not the rest of the bodie will be eather painted wood, metal or both

roschler · Site Admin Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 220

jc_oob,

I don't know how well this would work, but if you've got the bucks, you could try pulling the chimp skin off and putting a human mask on it. Then add a couple of extra motors to give it some extra human-like motions, especially around the mouth, and it might be pretty cool.
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Robert Oschler
Forum Administrator

jc_oob · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 51 Location: lake city florida

the problem is that I don't have the bucks

Nettron · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 16 Location: canada

Theres some info and pics of a robotic head made from junk parts on my website that may be give you some ideas , doesnt have any "skin" tho.

www.geocities.com/nettron1000/

click on robotics pages.
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Two roads diverged into a woods...i took the one less travelled. R. Frost.

jc_oob · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 51 Location: lake city florida

the page doesn't work

roschler · Site Admin Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 220

jc_oob,

Try the link again. He had a period instead of a slash at the end of the URL which I fixed.

Thanks.
_________________
Robert Oschler
Forum Administrator

misteroboto · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 1 Location: USA

Howdy -

I'm not sure exactly what shape you're going for, but we always had that problem designing mechanics for Stan Winston's projects. "Teddy" in AI had over 30 motors in the head alone! No space is typical.

There's a few tricks that might help, the most useful one being cables / linkages to transport the force thorugh tight spots. When I'm in a bind and can't machine special parts, I look to my RC hobby store and get creative.

Cheers -

Josh

www.misteroboto.com