Exoskeleton

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Scrapheap : One Thread

A exoskeleton put simply. The teams have to build a exoskeleton which would help the team member inside to move heavy or very large objects. One example is the robot thing in Aliens. The team member would have to go around an area collecting or moving a number of things eg. 3 and they got to choose which ones. There would have to be more than 6 objects so the teams can decide what things are easily for their exoskeleton ie ones with claws would choose small heavy things and ones with lifting mechanisms would choose large bulky things. This gives the teams flexibility and make them rely on their experts for a change (I would like to see a team try with out one). Of course it would be hard work finding an expert for each team but you could look for people who make the Mini subs with claws or the people who work with a lot of hydraulics. If you couldn't find away to make it possible for a team member to be inside the exoskeleton then it would have to be radio controlled but it lose some of the excitement. Remember the machines don't have to be biped the team member could be in the prone position or lying down (getting instructions from the other members in the team).

-- Gasman (TheGasman@dasite.fsnet.co.uk), November 06, 2000

Answers

Just wanted to say thats an excellent idea. Very Cool!

-- Blaze N Glory (blaze_n_glory@hotmail.com), November 06, 2000.

It's a nice idea but ... you know, you have to be realistic. I don't think you can do that in any reasonable amount of time. An easier challenge would be to build a mechanical crane with an articulated "grabber". Make it too complex and you'll get the same result as in the "Combine" challenge where they had to build a machine that (a) moved under its own power (b) cut wheat and (c) pick up wheat and put it into a hopper/basket. If you remember, the challenge was pretty much a failure for both teams since they had to build in essence, three machines.

Most of the successfull challenges involve two types of machines only. A vehicle bit and a thingy that actually did something. Add a third step and you run into trouble.

- Yves

-- Yves Lacombe (yveslac@videotron.ca), January 14, 2001.


I am afraid that this simply cannot be done.

We all remember how much power hydraulic rams need. Just to operate three hydraulic rams in the Demolitions challenge (the Muncher) required a V6 engine from a hacked-up van. There is no way one can put a full-blown 500-lb V6 engine in a wearable exoskeleton.

The United States Army has only recently begun to look into developing powered armor for the infantryman, and they don't expect to have a working model for at least another 15 years.

-- Thomas (trh1@cris.com), January 15, 2001.


Mr. Yves... I disagree... this is not an ordinary machine we are talking about, its an exoskeleton. Now granted, the member inside the exoskeleton would have to be in excellent physical condition, the human brain, and body, coupled with a machine of this magnitude would certainly be capable of this kind of competition, if it could be done...

As for needing an V6 engine... well, I do agree that there is no feasible way to neatly place it lol... but there are other power sources... I think it is DEFFINATELY worth looking into... even if it is bound for failure, but thats just my own personal opinion.

-- John (goswat@hotmail.com), March 13, 2001.


hi there , you can build an exo-skeleton with spare parts from an old tractor yard.. a lot of the hydraulics depends on the gearing in the transmission for the pumps, and you only need a four cylender diesel and about 38 gpm pump.. that is wha bobcats, and some small excavators have..the largeones of 100,000 lbs run at about 300 hp and 120 gpm with 5000-8000 psi, and what you might want to check on is installing a pc based gyro to stabilize the hydralic system when walking plus you could set the system with cervo, rotary, or linear actuaters. linear ar stronger, but react with more force one side than the other. rotary are nice, but they are really expensive, and you can use cervo valves, a pilot valve system, or elctric over hydraulic valving unit, but that is really jerky..but you can build an exo skeleton to work, but do you have the ability to operate the unit effeciently

-- D. R. Halvorsen (nesrovlah@yahoo.com), May 19, 2001.


I have been thinking about this very subject for the past three years. I do enviromental clean up, and we have hydraulic power paks that use only a 11 h.p. brigs engine(similar to that of a large lawn mower. It would depend upon the amount of fluid needed to the exo- skeleton. But I think it is possible to make one, that is portable.

-- David Vore (oillyguy@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

Just curious, with the advances of Magnetic propulsion, although expensive as it may be at this point, dont you think that it could be used as an alternative means of power vs. a car engine that weighs more then 400 pounds?

I would think it would be more productive using a magnetic propulsion drive system for almost all movement needs. True it may take several years and several hundred thousand dollars (maybe even millions) to devize such a system but it would be much more suited to the task then literally strapping a 500 pound noisy car engine to some poor persons back.

-- Jason Ponton (none@ofyourbusiness.com), September 15, 2002.


Why not build one with tracks; such as the robot in lost in space. Then the engine could be mounted on the rear of the chassis between the tracks.

-- John T. (Me@hello.org), November 09, 2002.

Well... I think it is one of the best idea I have heard in a long time. I would also like to add i am building a Exo-Skeleton Armor in my back yard. in my free time. So to all the Mech nuts, keep your eyes open and you will see my sonner or later.

-- Daniel Ericksen (MasqueradeofMadness@yahoo.com), November 26, 2002.

I agree that the exoskeleton should be motivated by something eletric not hydrolic. I think it should be powered by a small turboshaft jet hooked up to a electric generator . I think this because jet engines are smal an very light when compaired to a piston engine, and has alot more power out put the a piston engine ever would. It would last longer then a battery and you dont have to recharge it. Then there is the noise and heat that is generated by the jet, i'll let someone else figure that out. lol

-- Joseph Perry (mechpilotjoe@aol.com), July 03, 2003.


Sounds like an amazing idea. But it would take ages to build something like that.

-- Tijmen de Haan (tijm6140@hotmail.com), February 03, 2004.

sounds like u lot should all get a fuckin life!

-- g.i (g.i@exoskeltonsucks.com), February 03, 2004.

Well, it is already being done, and it hasn't even been 15 years!!

http://bleex.me.berkeley.edu/hel/bleex.htm

MJ

-- Mike Johnson (topnotchventures@yahoo.com), April 14, 2004.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ