The term mad scientist gets thrown around quite a bit, but in the case of one Matt Denton it most certainly applies. His company, Micromagic Systems, has been working steadily over the past four years to design and build a walking robot that's big enough to carry a human passenger. The resulting beast is described as "the biggest, all-terrain operational hexapod robot in the world."
The robot weighs a massive 1,900 kg (4,188 pounds), stands 2.8 meters (9.18 ft) tall, and is powered by a Perkins 2.2 liter turbo diesel engine and hydraulics. It's outfitted with a variety of sensors (including force transducers, angle sensors, and an inclinometer) that help it walk. A Linux PC running HexEngine – software designed to control hexapod locomotion – takes care of the 18 hydraulic actuators in its legs, while a panel PC puts you in the driver's seat.
"This is definitely the largest hexapod we have built so far," says Micromagic founder and Mantis' chief designer Matt Denton. His company, which produces animatronics for the film and television industry, has worked on hexapods before – including one that appeared as a six-legged turtle in the Harry Potter films. Mantis, however, was a passion project that is now being rented for events.
This isn't the only ginormous hexapod robot being built. A team from Massachusetts is working on one of a similar size called Stompy, following a successful Kickstarter campaign last year. However, Matt and his team beat them to the punch with Mantis, which you can see in action in the video below.
Source: Mantis Robot, Mantis Facebook page
6-legged Timberjack Walking machines have been around for a long time for forestry work. They use them because they do less ground damage than the normal tracked or wheeled harvesters.
(see video of one at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y)
They're kind of cool.
It probably never went into production because they did not have the portable computing power that is now available, to automate most of the functions.
Now when can I order one of those giant robots from Pacific Rim? :)
This is different...and I might say...a similar device has been on my drawing board. Ant's have very nimble legs with 5 joints, which would be superior on rough terrain and a forked claw for holding onto.
I have the a double Rexroth flow and pressure compensated pump(s) for operating two leg circuits, operating in sets of three in contact with the ground at all times. Rapid and precise movement, coordinated in 3d space is a challenge that can be overcome with computers and hydraulics today. I hope a couple sets of large cartridge valve banks are in my future.
The above is a great advancement in the technology and I hope to see more of it.