Pivot, the Hexapod Robot
How to build an autonomous walking robot

About this web site

This web site shows a project how to build an autonomous walking robot using available product on the market.


What you can find

How to start a project by thinking about the design of the robot. This will save a lot of headaches when done properly. Next, a page how to build the robot, and how to program the micro controller for autonomous walking with obstacle avoiding capability. For fun, movies and links to other useful websites can also be found.




Links

Following links are used for reference to buy parts, investigate kinds of robots, and nice sites for fun.

Robot Building Parts

http://www.graupner.com and http://www.servocity.com: Show all kinds of servos, and has information about servo specifications and types of servos.
http://www.ksmetals.com: Building materials used for the robot. You can not find what they sell in local hobby shops however. Graupner, mentioned above, does however show on-site what kind of metal building materials they offer.
http://www.gumstix.com: Very interesting micro computer which might be purchased in a later phase to give the robot much more intelligence when the software in the Brainstem is getting tool large.
http://www.hitecrcd.com: Like Graupner, they sell servos, and on this site you can find specs of them.
http://www.acroname.com: The controller used in the robot.
http://www.conrad.nl: Excellent Dutch hobby -and electronics shop selling everything you need (apart from controllers) to build your robot.

Robot Examples

http://www.tarry.de: Very clean, high-tech design hexapod.
http://www.lynxmotion.com: Shows several complete robot kits. The website also has interesting videos of the robots they sell, and shows the hexapod design video where you can see the sliding legs.
http://home.earthlink.net/~henryarnold: Nice design with the same concept as used above.
home.ctlnet.com/~robotguy67/hexapod/hexapod.htm: Shows excellent examples of high tech, home built robots. The site is interesting as well to gain knowledge on robot building from a builders' perspective.
http://www.beam-online.com: Uses 5 servos for walking. It shows an example of how to use servos directly as hinges, and how to attach legs to them.
http://bots_by_jbs.solarbotics.net/walker.html: The incredible walking machine. Uses solar power, and customized motors to propel itself.

Other

http://www.batteryuniversity.com: Useful information how to handle chargeable batteries.
http://pergatory.mit.edu/2.007/Resources/index.html#machine: Tool shop examples how to work metal.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/m.hotze/modelling/OD/olive-drab.html: Another site of from me about finding the right OD color.
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