Giant Robot Project
Encyclopedia
The Giant Robot Project is an undertaking by US inventor Jaimie Mantzel to construct a large 6-legged robot
.
The robot is approximately 10 to 12 feet in height with a similar dimension in width and is made primarily from scrap metal
and aluminum tubing. The machine is powered by a central electric motor
system that mechanically transfers energy to the legs. To walk, the machine lifts 3 of its legs forward while pushing the remaining 3 legs backward against the ground in an alternating cycle. The system is designed in such a way that it can seamlessly adjust its direction of movement based on the rotation of the drive
section located at the center of the machine. As of 2010, the robot had no onboard power system in place yet and during initial testing had to be tethered to external power sources.
Fabrication of the full-scale robot began in 2007 and intermittently continued until December of 2010 when an initial and short "Test Drive" was taken. This brief test demonstrated the structural soundness of the design in general but also highlighted material weaknesses. These currently are being or have since been improved upon thru continual upgrades or alterations of the robot.
Complementing the construction, a series of video logs of progress made on the project have been uploaded to YouTube
. Because of this, Mantzel has gained a following of supporters who occasionally make material or financial contributions to the Giant Robot Project.
A smaller version of the robot referred to as the 'Spider Tank' is also in development and serves as a scale model for many of the technologies and design features incorporated into the larger robot.
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
.
The robot is approximately 10 to 12 feet in height with a similar dimension in width and is made primarily from scrap metal
Scrap Metal
Scrap Metal were a band from Broome, Western Australia who played rock music with elements of country and reggae. The members had Aboriginal, Irish, Filipino, French, Chinese, Scottish, Indonesian and Japanese heritage. The band toured nationally as part of the Bran Nue Dae musical and with...
and aluminum tubing. The machine is powered by a central electric motor
Motor
Motor is a device that creates motion. It usually refers to an engine of some kind. It may also specifically refer to:*Electric motor, a machine that converts electricity into a mechanical motion...
system that mechanically transfers energy to the legs. To walk, the machine lifts 3 of its legs forward while pushing the remaining 3 legs backward against the ground in an alternating cycle. The system is designed in such a way that it can seamlessly adjust its direction of movement based on the rotation of the drive
Motor controller
A motor controller is a device or group of devices that serves to govern in some predetermined manner the performance of an electric motor. A motor controller might include a manual or automatic means for starting and stopping the motor, selecting forward or reverse rotation, selecting and...
section located at the center of the machine. As of 2010, the robot had no onboard power system in place yet and during initial testing had to be tethered to external power sources.
Fabrication of the full-scale robot began in 2007 and intermittently continued until December of 2010 when an initial and short "Test Drive" was taken. This brief test demonstrated the structural soundness of the design in general but also highlighted material weaknesses. These currently are being or have since been improved upon thru continual upgrades or alterations of the robot.
Complementing the construction, a series of video logs of progress made on the project have been uploaded to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Because of this, Mantzel has gained a following of supporters who occasionally make material or financial contributions to the Giant Robot Project.
A smaller version of the robot referred to as the 'Spider Tank' is also in development and serves as a scale model for many of the technologies and design features incorporated into the larger robot.