LEGO

There are only a few days left to enter the MINDSTORMS NXT Biped Building Challenge! We had a chance to talk to Yoshihito Isogawa about how he built his NXT Walker, an amazing biped on NXTLOG.

What inspired you to create a NXT Walker?

I tried to build a robot walking like a human being because I felt that I needed to raise my LEGO building technique.

How did you get started on your creation? Did you research other robots or bipeds on how they walked?

At first, I knew that most bipeds that are not made with LEGO have a lot of motors in each joint. However, MINDSTORMS NXT cannot control many motors. Therefore, I try to build bipeds with as few motors as possible. I even realized that it’s possible to build a biped with only one motor!

The first biped I made I used a LEGO Micro Scout motor (from the LEGO MINDSTORMS Droid Developer Kit), however, this biped shaked when its foot reached the ground because it had no knees. Therefore knees were added using universal joints.

The second Micro Scout biped I made was the protype for my NXT Walker:
NXT Walker

I also posted a building guide for my NXT Walker on my website:
NXT Walker Building Guide

What were the biggest challenges you faced?

There were two challenges I faced. One was weight balance. I had to adjust the position of the NXT according to which batteries I used (ex. NXT rechargeable batteries or alkaline cell or NiMH rechargeable batteries). Otherwise, the robot falls down. Of course it is hard for the robot to fall down if the back foot becomes bigger, but then the design of biped doesn’t look cool.

Another challenge was the setting of the ankles and legs. When even one tooth of a gear slips, the biped cannot walk very well.

What was the best feeling you had creating the NXT Walker?

I feel happy when anyone who watches the NXT Walker is surprised.

What advice would you give to builders who wish to create a NXT biped?

The most difficult thing for bipeds is the shifting of the center-of-gravity. I would encourage builders to think about how they will create their biped in various ways. It is very difficult to build bipeds, so it’s a good idea to get started with four-legged robots or six-legged robots.

Are you building any bipeds now?

I am building a single motor biped which can turn! The prototype is completed, but I am going to make its design more beautiful and then will publish it soon.

What else have you worked on?

I have published some LEGO books in Japan. One of them is the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Orange Book:

MINDSTORMS.com/Books

I also published a new LEGO technique book last year. This is a PDF file that can be downloaded from my website:
LEGO Technic Tora no Maki

Also see my website of LEGO Creations:
www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/

Don’t forget to visit the NXT Walker on NXTLOG:
NXT Walker
Posted by: yoccha

And enter the MINDSTORMS NXT Biped Building Challenge

Thank you Yoshihito!There are only a few days left to enter the MINDSTORMS NXT Biped Building Challenge! We had a chance to talk to Yoshihito Isogawa about how he built his NXT Walker, an amazing biped on NXTLOG.

What inspired you to create a NXT Walker?

I tried to build a robot walking like a human being because I felt that I needed to raise my LEGO building technique.

How did you get started on your creation? Did you research other robots or bipeds on how they walked?

At first, I knew that most bipeds that are not made with LEGO have a lot of motors in each joint. However, MINDSTORMS NXT cannot control many motors. Therefore, I try to build bipeds with as few motors as possible. I even realized that it’s possible to build a biped with only one motor!

The first biped I made I used a LEGO Micro Scout motor (from the LEGO MINDSTORMS Droid Developer Kit), however, this biped shaked when its foot reached the ground because it had no knees. Therefore knees were added using universal joints.

The second Micro Scout biped I made was the protype for my NXT Walker:
NXT Walker

I also posted a building guide for my NXT Walker on my website:
NXT Walker Building Guide

What were the biggest challenges you faced?

There were two challenges I faced. One was weight balance. I had to adjust the position of the NXT according to which batteries I used (ex. NXT rechargeable batteries or alkaline cell or NiMH rechargeable batteries). Otherwise, the robot falls down. Of course it is hard for the robot to fall down if the back foot becomes bigger, but then the design of biped doesn’t look cool.

Another challenge was the setting of the ankles and legs. When even one tooth of a gear slips, the biped cannot walk very well.

What was the best feeling you had creating the NXT Walker?

I feel happy when anyone who watches the NXT Walker is surprised.

What advice would you give to builders who wish to create a NXT biped?

The most difficult thing for bipeds is the shifting of the center-of-gravity. I would encourage builders to think about how they will create their biped in various ways. It is very difficult to build bipeds, so it’s a good idea to get started with four-legged robots or six-legged robots.

Are you building any bipeds now?

I am building a single motor biped which can turn! The prototype is completed, but I am going to make its design more beautiful and then will publish it soon.

What else have you worked on?

I have published some LEGO books in Japan. One of them is the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Orange Book:

MINDSTORMS.com/Books

I also published a new LEGO technique book last year. This is a PDF file that can be downloaded from my website:
LEGO Technic Tora no Maki

Also see my website of LEGO Creations:
www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/

Don’t forget to visit the NXT Walker on NXTLOG:
NXT Walker
Posted by: yoccha

And enter the MINDSTORMS NXT Biped Building Challenge

Thank you Yoshihito!

Original post by LEGO Mindstorms - Whats New