Walking robots are a popular domain of engineering research. They allow for easier access to confined spaces, more human-like movement patterns, and infinite possibilities for incorporation.
The main challenge in making a walking robot is finding ways to move the feet. Luckily, there are many ways to do that!
This article will go into detail on how to make a walking robot! Read on for more information.
Making Your Walkbot More Human-Like
Walking robots can be applied in many different domains. They are very popular due to their sleek look and human-like movement.
It is possible to make a walking robot that looks completely human, but with this article, you will be able to make your walkbot even more human-like! Read on for more information.
Contents:
Get a suit of clothes for your robot
Once your robot has a basic suit of clothes on, it is time to add some details. You can do this either by buying custom-made or mass-produced clothing, or by finding and using the instructions for adding detail to your robot.
Both of these options offer different benefits: buying pre-made clothing may not be best if you want it more detailed, while custom-made clothing may not be possible due to manufacturing standards.
In either case, the benefits are same: you get a new set of clothes for your robot!
To add detail to the suit, you must take into account head shape, hands and feet shape, and underlayment material. You must also decide if your robot needs armor or not.
If so, then that needs to be added. And lastly, you must decide if your robot needs weapons or not.
Get aluminum tubes for the legs
You will need two kinds of tubes: aluminum and synthetic. If you choose the synthetic, your walking robot will look more realistic – it will be gray and/or plastic. If you opt for the aluminum, your walking robot will look more futuristic – it will be shiny and/or metal.
The length of the aluminum tubes you use should be longer than the width of your robot. This is so the legs can swing around. If they are shorter, they may not able to support their own weight when walking.
To make your walking robot stronger, make the legs thicker at the bottom. Then, cut them out in half lengthwise to get each foot.
Get a foot for the base of the robot
When building your walking robot, you need to get a foot. Having a foot allows your robot to walk on its own and gets you started with programming your walking algorithm.
You can get a kit that includes everything you need to build your walking robot. Some of these include:
Some of these kits include wires to connect the foot to the processor. When putting it together, make sure that the wiring is connected properly.
Make sure that the processor is programmed with an algorithm that works for this foot. A common one used in robotics is the zen band design pattern.
How it works: The zen band design pattern works because it makes use of pressure changes in the ground under your feet to move the processor.
Use iron wire to hold together the leg tubes
When constructing your walking robot, you will want to make sure that you use enough wire to hold the leg tubes together. There are two ways to do this.
Use a pair of scissors to cut the length of wire that is needed to hold the leg tubes together.
Use a soldering iron and some copper wire to make a connection between the two legs. This method requires more work in order to ensure that it holds, but it can be done!
Either way, make sure that you have enough wire for your walk cycle and your robot will be able to move on its own.
Use wood as a base for the torso
Instead of a head, build a torso out of wood. You can use the muscles in your arms and legs to support yourself, or you can let your feet take the lead. The important part is that the torso has a base to stand on.
To make this robot realistic, you must add waist-and-leg joints to allow it to walk. Add gears or an internal mechanism to move the legs and head.
Walking robots are a popular genre of design, so this area is certainly worth exploring.
Put a pipe in the torso for the head to move on
A walking robot cannot move its arms, legs, or head. It can only walk on its own! That is why they are called walkers- they have to maintain their balance by keeping their spine in a straight line.
The best way to make a walking robot is to create a base that can hold the robot upright. This includes finding a platform that is about 2–3 feet long, with rounded edges and a solid center.
To give the robot its torso, find an old T-shirt or sweatshirt and cut off the bottom half of the shirt. Then, wrap elastic around the bottom of the shirt and tie off. This will give your robot something to hold on to when it walks.
To create its legs, Wrapped-up the bottom of an old pair of socks together and place them around the chair or flooring where the bot will be placed.
Put servos in the legs and head
Once your walking robot has a set path it wants to follow, add in some servos to make it walk on its own. This will give you some challenges to work on!
Servos are tricky to control. You have to manually move them up and down to walk in a circle, or must program them to the path your robot wants to take.
To program the servos, you must first understand the basic mechanics of robotics. Then, you can learn how to program Servo Motors and Assembly language or C Programing.
Here are some basic tips for programming Servos: Use a good set of numbers as start and stop values for your Servo programs.
Connect everything together with wires
Once your robot is built, you’re going to need to connect it to the computer. This allows you to program it and connect it to the world!
Once connected, you can then program your walking robot!
The first step in programming is finding a way for your robot to move. One popular way to do this is by connecting a battery pack and an electric motor. You can then software control where the battery bank goes and what position the motor needs.
To make this machine more efficient, build it with as few parts as possible. Use high quality plastic or Fiberglass if necessary.