Theo Jansen’s Walker
My third walking vehicle. Features 8 legs based on Theo Jansen’s walking mechanism, driven by two motors.
Datasheet:
Completion date: 31/08/2011
Power: electric (Power Functions)
Weight: 0.492 kg
Suspension: none
Propulsion: 2 x PF Medium motor geared 1:66:1
Motors: 2 x PF Medium
I wasn’t satisfied with my previous walker which tried to adapt the Klann linkage, so I turned to something else: the Theo Jansen’s mechanism. I started by studying a so-called kinetic horse which uses Jansen’s linkage to move four legs. I recreated the linkage using 5 and 7 studs long liftarms, and I’ve been experimenting on a 4-legged walker for a while. I was trying to make it steered by articulation, but it proved to be unstable. I have then created two identical 4-legged units and connected them together. I wanted the whole walker to be steered by controlling four left and four right legs independently; I have been experimenting with a studless subtractor in the propulsion system, but it resulted in the walker being slow, large and clumsy.
Eventually, I settled for a lightweight body with two Medium motors controlled independently. I have shortened the legs, as longer legs needed longer chassis to maintain the same level of stability. I have also equipped them with rubber tips to improve traction on flat surfaces. The walker created this way turned out to be very efficient, agile and fast, even if very simple. I consider it my best walker up to date, but this is rather thanks to relying on Theo Jansen’s work than on my own solutions.
@Alexander
No.
have you ever thought of making one thats steered by changing how far the legs go back/forward? it would be complicated but may be possible.
IT`S ALIVE!!!!!!
it would had been nice if you took the pairs on the left or the right side and made 2 pictures of them.
Nice work though.
@jerkerhead
Both.
when using the broom were you sweeping videoing and controlling the walker at the same time.
If you were smart you would start beating the insect instead of pushing it away :P.
You should try to make a walker with multiple dof on the legs.
btw you should check my unimog out on technic gallery, its by the username kusogaki
cool thanks
@john
Well, you would need four receivers, all of which can be set on the same channel to work as one.
@Black_Omega63
Yes, I think this walker can easily handle the weight of the regular battery box.
can you use two battery boxes to function 4 motors from only one reciever?
@Black_Omega63 try it!
Oops sorry i meant sunday 😀
Sariel will not reply, as he is on holiday untill saturday 🙂
Hi Sariel,
That is a cool alien walker you’ve got there! Maybe the next alien invasion will use these for their attacks! 😉
I would like to build something like one of your recent walkers, but I do not have a rechargeable battery. Do any of the walkers have enough power and handle loads well enough to carry a normal battery box?
Thanks! 🙂
See ya, Black_Omega63
ohu~ nevamind u hav the rechargeble one
watt?!
@john
Zero.
how many batteries do you buy a month? just curious…
R.I.P Pearl…
@Sariel
sorry to hear that..
that’s too bad.
@Mike
Just two now, Lucius and his other sister. Pearl got sick a few weeks ago and passed away 🙁
@Sariel
how many do you have? There’s good old Lucius, his sister, and? 🙂 just to stick to totally Lego related stuff 😀
@Mike
Ah, yes, my other hamster does the same thing. I call him Inverted Gravity Hamster.
@Sariel
well what ours did was like a military training. He climbed up on vertical textiles, ran, fell, and on top of it all, hanged from the grille on his terrarium. By his front paws, gnawing on the grille, and wandering around while hanging.
@Mike
I know what you mean, they can be lightning-fast when they want to… which is usually when there’s nothing to eat nearby 🙂
@Sariel
I have seen him 🙂 it’s just funny how much faster he could be if his legs wouldn’t slip that much. 🙂
Our first hamster could do 2 metres in one blink of an eye on the sofa, when he was scared.
@Mike
Are you kidding me? Have you seen Lucius in the Crab video, or was he running too fast to be noticed? 😛
@Sariel
😀 they’re not that good on flat surfaces, hamsters…
No, I can´t watch the video because I´m from germany and I can´t watch the video here because of “….. GEMA blabla“ 🙁 . So I´ll have to watch it when I´m in poland again 🙂 it will be in some weeks 🙂 . And there are more videos waiting to be watched like the BMR-2 🙂 @Mike
@Mike
No, I don’t think the speed affects the stability. The number of legs certainly does. As for seeing it walk, Lucius walking is still a funnier sight.
maybe the thing driving it is green because of the “smooth” ride 😀
the faster the legs move, the more szable the walker is?
Didn’t you laugh seeing it walk? 😀 it’s very clever mechanically, I admire such mechanisms, but it’s damn funny actually 😀 crazy machine! 🙂
Cool walker! Maybe i`ll try to build it, too. But I can`t watch the video again 🙁