1/31/2005: Alaskan builds mecha

Carlos Owens, Jr sounds like a driven guy, sounds like the sort of guy I'd like to hang out with. It became his dream to build a 18 foot tall fully functional bipedal humanoid mecha with flame-throwing arms. A killer human-looking robot that you sit in and control.

And so he went and started building it. So what if it'll cost him $20,000?

Besides mild steel - stainless would be too expensive - 23 hydraulic cylinders are woven throughout, giving the mecha 46 possible movements. An 18-horsepower gas engine will provide the power and a car battery the juice for the computer, cameras, lights and sound effects. Fiberglass skin will allow the operator to stay fully hidden.

full story

Interview with the gent

Of course, the Japanese have already done it:

Hey, didn't Ripley have one of those machines in the second Alien movie?

I think my kids already have the action figures for this one.

Heh. As I scrolled down to the Japanese creation, my first impression was that it was standing there holding a pair of scissors. I had images of being attacked by a string of paper people. . .
:3eye:

I want to see that thing walk and watch it handle obstacles. Then, if I like it, I'ma ask him to build me one!

If it was worth doing, the US Army would have already done it.

I envy Carlos. He has a dream. :)

Not only did he have a dream, he acted on it.

I totally remember this guy from that Simpsons episode. Fire-spewing and everything. Even the crash up derby part.

Wombat wrote:

If it was worth doing, the US Army would have already done it.

Exactly....
as for the japs: Big dreams for small penises.
..........at least that's what Cum Soon told me............ :doit:

Wooow cool, look out world, he will conquer you all!! :eek:

Cyber Wolf wrote:

I want to see that thing walk and watch it handle obstacles.

I wouldn't be the first one to try out this beast.
I am concerned of this things balance... have a feeling
its hydralics isn't fast enough.

Wormfood wrote:

I wouldn't be the first one to try out this beast.
I am concerned of this things balance... have a feeling
its hydralics isn't fast enough.

Really.
from the fullstory link: [QUOTE] Success hinges on finding a way to balance a machine packing 3,500 pounds per square inch. [QUOTE]
He'd better have some hellacious hydraulics. And a fast computer.
I'm thinking maybe he should have designed it to be very wide instead of very tall........of course the training wheels should help.
Yeah, Right. :bonk:

But it is bottom heavy like a Weeble, according to the link. ;)

A walking robot for the forrestry folks ,
http://www.plustech.fi/Walking1.html

sorry about that , i thought it was cool and worth throwing into the mix ,

Absolutely, that thing is the ultimate all terrain, bar none. :thumbsup:

GP has a mill here & I think I can say that the price of wood sucks.

Update: Carlos is auctioning off his completed mecha on eBay.

I wonder if we could dress it up to look like a toad? :biggrin: