08.26
This model will be small, cheap and pack alot of punch in true kiwi style.
The models initial design uses 18 HTX900 servos, these are some of the cheapest servos money can buy but they have impressive torque and speed despite that. These servos control 6 legs of the hexapod with 3DOF per leg. The initial fabrication will be done using solidworks and ~3mm lasercut acrylic. Control will be achieved using the mighty arduino mega (able to control up to 48 servos simultaneously), and two xbee modules will give us the ability to reprogram on the fly from up to one mile away. A wireless camera will be integrated into the ‘face’ to give us a ‘bots eye view’.
Essentially this is a design to test our abilities to build something pretty awesome. If anyone is in doubt as to the ability of a design like this to appear ‘lifelike’ I would like to invite you to check out these videos.