I saw this and thought "wow, robotics has come such a long way!", and then I looked at the date of the video and realized this was 15 years ago. Holy shit. We need more stuff like this. Just imagine what we can do now!
absolutely amazing. you have managed to cram this into those tiny motors. and made it into a working, mostly nonbuggy appearing prototype. that's absolutely amazing, if i could just buy some....
I read about these in a... Popular Science, I think, years ago. Interesting coincidence to see them again after all this time. The one thing I see that holds the design back is the lack of a wrist joint, something that allows units to rotate on their central axis. I must admit that they do show effort with how they coordinate to achieve such rotations, but it's a lengthy, multi step process that could be streamlined. Other than that I do feel it's a bit of a let down that individual units have little mobility of their own. No wheels or anything makes them more reliant on being pre-assembled. Speaking of which, it would be good to see supplemental units of this system that are built for certain tools or functions. For example a wheeled or tracked unit for greater mobility, a claw unit for object manipulation and climbing. So, yeah. Interesting, but has both potential for, and requirement of, improvement.
This, on a human size scale, you could fit extremely advanced processors as well as stronger motors and connections. Oh god. But this is truly awesome.
@0rmick I've seen this wheel formation somewhere before... I think it was not a modular robot, but it was capable of rolling itself(in somewhat of a phase) and this robot could easily be programmed to do that I think... but yeah I think it would have to be two wheel robots next to each other, connected through some of the little guys in between, to spread out the stability just like in a car, or any other vehicle with two wheels next to each other.
This is a true accomplishment of robotics mastery. One thing I must add, though. Instead of a modular design, why not use long strings attached to the inside of an articulated tube, then pull the strings with servos. This would avoid having to make many tiny "Vertebrae" and the vertebrae having to communicate with each-other.
btw, it would also be awesome if you did somthing like: Get two modules separated, not touching any other modules even when the bend all the way in each direction, have the rest of the modules form into a shape that can dance (humanoid or like a coiled snake with the neck standing up, then modulate the speed of the two separated modules to make music (like how they made with that scanner that plays Fur Elise (i always forget how to spell that)) and make the dancer dance to the music
There are no words to discirbe what i have witnessed here... Think of the posiblitys! If you make an army of these things, you could build a house, and then every day when you come home, you configure your funiture, and turn your sofa into a rocking chair! or make a windeo out of a wall!!! Man just thinking about that blows my mind... If you know who made this, tell 'em them a GENUIS!!!!!
the second fourlegged form looks awesome, the motion is realistic enough to start dipping in the uncanny valley btw, isn't there a smaller set of motions to turn from the first 4legged form to the first linear form? Kinda looks like it might be taking theru the longer way, dunno
Excelente invento modular!! Felicidades!!, yo como arquitecta creo que puede servir de inspiración para hacer edificios modulares e infraestructuras inteligentes
Thats impressive, i remember how slow computers use to be and now their like lightning. Probably not so long befo somebody makes a robot with a nucelear power pack, HIHI lighting fast robots.
It won't be so awesome when you make giant versions of these and they realise they can control the entire human race by rebuilding into a frkn yamato cannon.
I'm assuming that there is a drill like piece that comes out of the two connecting modules to plug them into each other. They'd have to be anchored well somehow because they look heavy.
