A good way to go crazy...
Back on April 11, I wrote about the "NXT Black Book" written by Yoshihito Isogawa. If you take a close look at the cover of that book, you'll see a walker demonstrated.
The book does NOT provide the building instructions for this robot. What it does provide are 10 full-color photos of the robot from various angles. I was able to "reverse-engineer" this walker after a couple of hair-pulling hours - lots of mistakes and realizations and Ah-Ha moments. Finally, I was able to duplicate the walker.
Well, that was the good news. The bad news? I can't get the thing to actually walk. I've played around with this robot enough and have had it. I can't provide you with the building instructions because I don't know if that's legal or not. The author doesn't provide them, so you're forced to do what I did if you want to try and duplicate it.What it comes down to is a robot that for all purposes APPEARS to actually walk, but doesn't. I've made appeals to the public to try and track down the author for a video or some technical help, but no such luck. I'm not saying the author doesn't have a real working-walking robot, but what I am saying is that if I've built the exact same robot from the photos, then this thing is just for looks. Maybe it's possible I missed some small secret part that makes the whole thing work, but I doubt it. If anyone else has the book, I'd LOVE to hear from you regarding if you were able to build the walker and get it walking.
I want to believe.
Comments
The wires were removed for better photographs.
Jim
I think I mentioned that I bought this same black book. Since I don't know Japanese, the only thing of value to me in the book was the walker you tried to build.
When I heard that you couldn't get the robot to work, I said to my wife: "If Jim Kelly can't get it to work, there's NO chance I can get it to work". So I tossed the book!
However, there are some sharpies on this blog who could get this bot going, I'll bet.
Rick
Anonymous - No, I'm not leaving the Mindstorms NXT hobby... just trying to keep my other project separate.
Looks interesting! I would try to build it if I had the book.
Robolab 2.9
When are you going to finsih it?
Jake
lol well its a black book brother to the infamous blue book of area 51 so that would mean it was created by alliens with a high degree of lego science. "the truth is out there" but its in Japanese. we may never know.
after reading the MadArno's LEGO Biped i am inspired to do a a major upgrade to my biped. in NXT only studless the goal walking up plano boxes. i might need some help from them alliens though, i may never know as well.
Yes, it'll be a real arcade cabinet to play some of my favorite games. I get asked "What games will it play" a lot and the short answer is "All of them" :) Do a Google search on MAME and you can learn more. I'm a product of the 80's so you're sure to find Pac Man, Space Invaders, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Tempest, Tron, and more... woo hoo.
As for when it'll be finished - I don't really know. I've got some busy months ahead of me so I may not get much done on it for a while.
http://www.bluerocketwriting.com/SISJhome.html is cooooooool!!!!!!
Time for dinner. Bye!!
Jake
http://neostormer.dynamized.com/images/bipedani.gif
It's only an animation from the back but it should be enough to help.
Paul NeoStormer (Owner and founder of Neostormer.co.nr)
We lost contact after we both moved and he changed jobs. If anyone knows his contact information, please send him mine or send me an email. My wife and I are planning a trip to Japan and I would like to visit with him.
Chris
Jim
Regarding the bot, perhaps the reason for the lack of building instructions was due to the bot not acutaly working.
Regarding my MAME cab: I haven't ordered my joysticks yet, but there is a guy who is selling copies of an authentic TRON joystick - he made a mold of an original and produces knock-offs in original blue and also in red.
For me, I don't want to dedicate the space to a joystick for just one game. I'll find a way to make it work though - I'm considering creating an "add on" panel that can clip on and support games like Tron that require special controls.
As for the spinner, yep, I'm putting one on the control panel. I don't think it will be possible to control Tron's arms and fire without it.
Andy
I wonder if the opposite foot could do the same in this build? but that design leaves little to adjust sice it basicaly is just tipping over. make foot widder on the out side might help? not easy to make a biped with only three motors. I would guess it wont turn very easy as well.
I'll wait a few more days and then maybe do some tinkering.
Jim