Electronic Circuits and Projects Forum

Hello, I probably would attempt to build it by engineering the parts in a different way, but Polymorph just makes it easier to quickly make any part you need in any shape, and change it's not quite right.

I guess you have to look at Polymorph for what it is - a prototyping plastic. If everything works well then I may design a similar machine that can be laser cut from sheet HDPE or something...

When I started building 'human size' machines - with Android 1, 2, 3.... I always planned to build the entire machine, with a head, arms etc. Some of them got quite far, but normally I'd thought of a better way to make the legs work so I started another one. I always tried to make them simple with a low motor count which is why the others aren't as great walkers as some walking toys - things get wierd when you scale up.

Long term, if Android 10 works well ok, I plan to at least 'finish' this one so it can at least move it's arms and have a webcam in it's head that can be used with RoboRealm for some automonmous behavior.

Long long term I'd like to code some form of AI and use it for social interaction expermiments.

Are there any sponsors or peoples that help you through the way?

Just asking, what major are you in and are you still studying? This sound interesting ... btw, why you don't join other company that build Android...

My only achievement so far is 2DOF robotic arm..

You are way in front of me, but i am catching up i wish you the best luck in your project.

Some suggestion: Why you don't use solidwork to build up a prototype then build up the whole thing. Use engineering software like ANSYS to calculate stress and use solid work for the dimension. Solidwork and ANSYS work quit well togather.

No, all the projects get paid for out of my own pocket. The only funding is through Google ads on the site which make about $0.20 a day ;-)

I'm not studying anymore, I formally studied electronics and mechanical engineering about 11 years ago, but I've been working in the IT industry since then. I'm currently a 'Solutions Technical Consultant' for a global corpration working with VMware and other enterprise server architecture.

There aren't that many local companies that make androids as I live in the UK, so there's only really The Shadow Robot Company. I visited them once, but they are on a very tight budget and also way ahead of me in terms of the technology they are using.

I think the reason I've made it the way I have is because it's more intuitive this way. I can quickly make a ball joint for instance and feel how it will move, get hold of some springs or elastic cord and see how much force it takes to stretch them, the same with motors, see how much things weigh... and generally experiment with things in real life.

I might draw some parts with CAD and have them laser cut if I build another android after this one, but that is some time in the future. There are many improvements that could be made, including those around the control system... but then we're looking at more $$$ and less fun messing with Polymorph / more time sitting in front of a PC trying to work the parts out in CAD.

The whole aim is to make it as simple and easy as possible to construct and control, also to inspire other people who don't have specialist equipment...