Hamster Powered Strandbeest Walker

[Ian Curtis]

I'm sure many of you are familiar with Theo Jansen's walkers. If you aren't, watch his TED talk. (http://www.ted.com/talks/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html)

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A3iP0NGDDao)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AcPAtHh3eE8/TU7TjRGEsdI/AAAAAAAAApo/ynPHO7iwRJs/s320/photo+1%25283%2529.JPG

Apparently, there is a kit for a plastic replica, and someone on the internet hooked one up to hamster wheel. It's very neat.

Hamster Powered Walker Blog Post (http://crabfuartworks.blogspot.com/2011/02/hamster-powered-walker.html)

[vigkvagkv2]

Imagine a huge version of that with a person in it...

[Colin P]

Hypothetically, of course...
Are walkers of this fashion FRC legal?

[Ian Curtis]

Hypothetically, of course...
Are walkers of this fashion FRC legal?

Sure! It would be a very interesting technical challenge, but I doubt it would result in a very capable robot. There are a lot of linkages in those legs. The originals are made of bamboo, so they can't require a great deal of precision, but I think they would end up being rather massive if constructed to take the stress of an FRC match.

I imagine you'd end up with a design award though, and the envy of all the engineers and mechanism dorks at the event.