klann linkage/ theo jansen/walker stuff

hi guys!

iv been looking at some websites about walkers, and deduced that a: making a walker is tricky (:P) and b: i would absolutly love to make one! :mrgreen:

my origional intention was to make it into a featherweight, but it would be pretty uncompetitive so now its just gonna be a demo bot (pilgrim/arac type moment :) ) so far there have been 2 types of linkages that i have seen at events:

a: the klann linkage, as seen on arac. links: http://www.mechanicalspider.com/
and
b: the theo jansen linkage, as seen on pilgrim. http://www.strandbeest.com/ , http://letsmakerobots.com/node/5087 (awsome animation on this one!)

so there i was searching the web for more sites about the big 2 ( :uhoh: ) when i came across this.....

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hexabot ... ged-robot/


thats just so awsome :) and you can ride on it!!!! iv been thinking that i could bipass the microcontroller setup, an just use the electronics from the wheelchair! so like just take the motors and esc/joystic out and attach them to the leg mech :) AND i found a cheap-o wheelchair :) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBIS-xp-Electric- ... 8bdc1#shId

which one do you think i should build? the klann linkage looks good but a bit complicated, the theo jansen linkage looks cool but has been done, and the hexabot looks cool, and simple but hasnt been done befor (good or bad thing? lol :P)
jack

Hi
First off I would not recommend the Theo Jansen type mechanism for your first walker my effort has over 500 parts in the walking mechanism alone, some are nuts, bolts and washers but most parts had to be made especially for it!

The Klann linkage is used by Froggy on Arac This linkage mechanism also has many bits and will take a very long time to make. Froggy will comment on his experiences so I would not second guess him.

As for the hexabot type robot, the linkage it is simple and can be made using box section material and bits robbed from a wheelchair or similar. A ride on one would be fun, but perhaps you would like to think about transporting the thing around and were it would be stored before starting on such a large project. If everything is ok then I would go for it I was thinking of a similar machine for myself and for the kids.


The down side of this linkage is it is quite inefficient and slow if you increased the speed you couldn€™t stand to be on this type of machine as the ride would shake your fillings out off your teeth. Whatever machine you make enjoy making a unique and interesting invention there is only a small band of brothers/fools/mad men, who even try to make walkers,

welcome to the club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuRT9gC0CGs

Some interesting things here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/robots/tec ... case.shtml