Re: Landwalker Robot (Mechwarrior?)


Dan Holdsworth wrote:

>I rather suspect you'd have a good deal more luck
>with many more legs; try copying the gait and
>scaled-up biomechanics of a tiger beetle;

>More legs means the vehicle is more stable, and less likely to be
>completely incapacitated if it steps on a mine.

My main problem with a stable insect-like low and
flat layout is that it's only a little more mobile
than catapillar tracks or wheels, but much slower
and more complex (meaning more maintenance). At
the same time, there's either less internal space
or the vehicle is less capable of fitting through
narrow spaces.

Going back to my idea that perhaps tall vehicles
could afford some protection from IEDs, a giraffe-like
layout might be good. The compact body has four or
telescoping legs sprouting from its corners.

However, I think a wheeled vehicle can do better.
Take the above long-legged design and put two wheel
axles on the end of the legs. The front axle is
attached to the front two legs; the rear axle is
attached to the rear two legs. Now, the vehicle
is like a very tall "monster truck" with a "smart"
active suspension.

The vehicle can drive over most terrain providing a
smooth ride thanks to the long suspension struts.
It can overcome steep slopes by "flattening" the
legs front-to-back.

It can step over tall walls by balancing on the
rear legs (Segway-like), and then extending the
front legs over the obstacle. Then it shifts its
balance to the front legs (Segway-like), and lifts
the rear legs over the obstacle.

In case either the front or rear legs are damaged,
the vehicle may be able to operate balanced on the
other set of legs (Segway-like). Alternatively, a
damaged vehicle may be able to use the wheels to
drag itself along.

The overall mechanical complexity of this vehicle
is comparable to a truck, so theoretically the
maintenance costs could be reasonable. The legs
don't even need independent 3 degrees of freedom.
2 degrees of freedom could be good--swinging front/back
and extending/retracting.

Isaac Kuo

.

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