Our BIGGEST project yet! (SPIDER MECH!)

FAQ: Such a huge project makes it impossible to cover everything in one video, so here's a bit more information about why we did things the way we did!

- The biggest challenge in this project was integrating and tuning our system, because big hydraulics, heavy frames, and tons of sensors have a lot of variability that needs to be checked. We used an open-source hexapod library to control how it walks, which has been used on much smaller hexarobots, and works great. Once the mechanical system is more reliable, it will be able to walk easily.

- A lot of people asked why we didn't make a scale model, and the answer is quite simple. When you get to multi-ton mechs, scale models provide almost no benefit, because you can't build a scale model the same way you have to build a giant steel machine. A toy version using motors wouldn't teach us anything. And if we built a 1/4 or 1/2 scale version, the cost would almost be the same as the full-size megahex -- because all the components required cost approximately the same, small or large (valves, sensors, even hydraulic cylinders don't change too much in size).

- This leads into another common fallacy when it comes to science fiction -- Movies like Transformers, or Pacific Rim... simply aren't possible. Doesn't matter how far technology advances, when you get to literal skyscraper sized robots... there's not any materials on earth strong enough to withstand the forces of such a big mech! Everyone's familiar with the common saying "The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall". And that really sums it up. Why is it you can drop a cat from a few stories up and it's fine, but it's certain death for humans? Because force multiplies with mass.

- Why flat feet? We had planned on designing different feet attachments for it (you can see the holes in the plates for mounting), but for the base foot, we went with a large flat foot with rubber pads on the bottom, as the initial goal is just walking on flat ground. Having a big flat foot helps ensure the foot remains parallel to the frame, and the leg perpendicular to the ground. A pointy or rounded foot would increase the risk of the robot "twisting it's ankle" which is the weakest link in the excavators. They aren't designed for angular forces.

- Why didn't we do more FEA calculations? FEA calculations are great, but sometimes are just theoretical for best-case scenarios. For the excavators, we didn't design or manufacture them, which makes them an unknown variable that makes it really hard to calculate things for!

- Are we going to revisit it? yes but it might be a while. We want at the very minimum for it to be able to stand up on display, and walk one leg at a time (the slowest, but most stable hexapod gait)

This is I could afford 😢 sorry😭

"Mega mechs jack!"

Were gonna have walking machines in 2024

FACTORIO BE LIKE

Play scrap mechanic ffs

what stupid bullshit...people know how to invest time in nothing...

The reason this project took too long is because no one prayed to the machine spirit daily.

ITS A JUGGERNAUT FROM 86 HOLY SHIT

Renzokuken.

I came to see a mech spider in action, smashing pumpkins at least, but could not find anything more than the guy talking and static images... :(

I'm half way through and I'm just thinking how much I'd love to be programming something like this walking motion as a fan of programming (my day job) and geometry. Moving the foot in a straight line means moving all 4 hydraulics of the leg as well as the pivoting of the femur at varying speeds depending on their individual positions. Oh the fun of doing that!

Like ghost in the shell?

Scale models, bro.

If theres one thing this video has taught me its that....Doc Ock really was a genius. He did it all by himself and integrated it into his body 🤣

a quick thought - whould a circular frame around the cockpit with weighted balls in it that adjusts for the overall balance increase the stability of the machine? ofc it needs to be calibrated and adjusted by the input of the controller to relieve some pressure on the legs.

I believe that this is one of the most important videos as without failures there would not be success!

we are pushing the exavators beyong theyr limit ..... yea maybe use one that cann handle that and then try to build it ???

More legs help it? What about frame material weight reduction on the load bearing parts? Some type of algorithm for movement I'm guessing needs hard coded in too so make like "logical rules of walking" that it has to abides by or it will fall without the proper triangulation of bearing load on other legs moving (maybe why more legs will help)

This is some Generation Zero shit right here!

Dr. Brackman is impressed!

Meh

Needed rubber pads on the feet so it can get traction better.

good work, very impressive work. I wish I had an engineering brain. don't know if you actually looked at how spiders actually walked to help you but if you didn't maybe that might have helped with working out the rhythm. also I think if you had better feet that gripped and didn't tilt when they made contact it would have probably helped. don't know just a couple of things what came to my mind while watching it. not that it matters coz your done with this project anyway.

you need to do more projects like this!

Spiders have eight legs. That's an insect mech

Factorio spidertron 😂 Awesome build!

X-ATM092?

A spider has eight legs though. Still interesting anyways.

It needs spring suspension on its legs and the feet need to be be jointed and have some type of padding

Spiders have eight legs.

AMAZING

I see KISS wasn't followed.

Spider Mastermind! Get your Chaingun!

It's like to computer graphic. Realy.

Those old enough to remember 'Wild Wild West' are scarred from enjoying this

This is amasing!
Hi dudes, you and your project is some beyond, I'm shocked. Even though my specialty is far from robots, your efforts taught me a lot, thank you!
Good luck in your new projects!

If I see the first ever supervillain, I know where to look first!

Of course, if any of them had arachnofobia, that would make their achievement even more remarkable

love your work but i have a suggestion to make. why not change out the legs and fabricate a claw like leg for more traction. but all in all this is cool.

Trial and error at full scale? Sounds fun.. Sure to teach a lot.

если бы вместо готовых манипуляторов - сделали бы свои с нуля - то все было бы гораздо проще. для таких "ног" - надо всего два привода на каждую и только 3 шарнира с 1 степенью свободы каждый

Doing a stress analysis in Solidworks, Yikes.

the handling machine from wotw is real afterall

THE GIANT ENEMY SPIDER

Americans)

I'm 100% sure hack smith are going to take over the world

mechrantula

This EDF crawler🤣

Spider Mastermind incoming