Building The Big Bamboo

29th January 2016, 06:57

Looks like a parachute

.

How did those bars fair against opposition? Did they not fly off? And I didn't consider growing the stuff, I don't know how I'd manage to get that past the girlfriend to be honest.

**overkill** · 29th January 2016, 07:08

The roll-over hoops are made of UHMW and have been really reliable; because they are quite springy, they also provide some shock protection when the bot lands upside down. The front one was cut in half by a vertical saw bot but that is the only real damage they have ever taken.

You would probably need a greenhouse to grow bamboo in Birmingham but as some species grows at up to a metre per day, you could have a frame is about a week.

29th January 2016, 10:56

I'd need a greenhouse with central heating to grow it in Birmingham!

I see your point though. I bought some bamboo and it was delivered last week, turns out the bamboo I bought is too thin to be used how I intended it. BUT, there are 50 canes at about 1.5/2m lengths and incredibly light. I tried to bend one and it was difficult to get any sort of bend in the cane.

So I think I'm on the right track with the frame at least, I just need to order thicker bamboo. I ordered 14mm thinking it was in reference to the thickness of the cane wall. What I'll be going for next is 25/30/40mm thickness. However the thinner bamboo would probably be ideal in a triangle formation around the base of the frame. I'll give it a try at the weekend.

**overkill** · 29th January 2016, 11:24

You can bend regular wood after steam treatment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_bending that may or may not work on bamboo. Wood can also be bent with an ammonia solution - pretty sure your GF is going to veto that one!

**ChrisKazoo** · 29th January 2016, 19:06

Originally Posted by overkill

Or you could bend some bamboo as shown below and automatically self-right with no power or coding:

If you grow your own bamboo, it is possible to train it into shapes like this with a frame - if you are aiming for an environmentally friendly bot, its the only way to go!

Only problem with that is other robots hook you don't they Nick