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  • Author Author: dubbie
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Walking Robots #2 : Tobbie is Completed

dubbie

Continuing with my investigation of walking robots I have completed making Tobbie, as illustrated in the video below. I am very impressed with the mechanical engineering and design of this product and I think it is a great robot. I am sure that there is much more that can be done with this than just playing with it's supplied functions.

 

 

The walking mechanism is fascinating. It uses alternating sets of three legs to move forwards or backwards. It uses three legs because it is always stable so while one set of three legs is on the ground Tobbie is stable, so that the other three can be moving forwards or backwards. I'm not entirely sure how it turns yet, maybe some vector type combination of the two sets of legs.

 

It seems perfectly feasible to replace the existing electronics in Tobbie's head with an Arduino Nano or similar. I might even have a go at this myself.

 

Dubbie

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  • That looks Awesome.  I might have to start saving up my pocket money! There's so much scope there for modding.

  • in reply to danielw

    Daniel,

     

    It does seem as if Tobbie might make a good platform for some interesting experiments in walking mobile robots. I obtained mine from Amazon where one seller was much cheaper than all thee others. Seemed to be a good seller as it came quickly and was complete.  I think it is a good quality design, but it is important to remember than it is still a toy made from plastic and probably quite easy to break. Good fun though so far.

     

    Th box states it being suitable for 8 year olds but they would have to be pretty aware mechanically and very careful in order to construct it properly. I took three days to put it together as I wasn't in a rush and I carefully removed all the burrs from the injection moulded parts. Some steps were difficult to understand, especially towards the end - six legs do kind of get in the way!

     

    If MyTobbie works out I might even buy some more.

     

    Dubbie

  • in reply to danielw

    Daniel,

     

    It does look good. I might have a go although there are many different parts to print. I'd prefer something simpler but that might not exist.

     

    Dubbie

  • in reply to dubbie

    Would you say Tobbie is simpler?  Or are you thinking of a simpler method of drive?

  • in reply to danielw

    Dsniel,

     

    I think that Tobbie has fewer different types of parts but some of them do need to be printed multiple times, such as the legs. I'm not very good at the 3D CAD stuff. I've tried using actual drawing CAD packages several times, but somehow I just never seem to grasp the concepts. I currently use TinkerCAD which is a block based 3D CAD package which I can just about manage as I used to make quite complex drawings using the drawing tools within Word, which I find similar. I can understand the grouping, copying and so on this approach uses. I am also happy to use nuts and bolts to make the joins which I think should also simplify the design. I have no idea how to make gears in TinkerCAD so I might have to borrow someone else's designs for that.

     

    Dubbie

  • in reply to dubbie

    Dubbie,

     

    I use Solidworks at work and I would say I'm reasonable with it.  After years of 2D I found 3D quite a bit different.  I think I need the graphical interface.  I'm lucky (Or unlucky depending on how you look at it.) that I can also use it at home. (In case I need to tweak something, and so that I try things out in my spare time.)  If I didn't have that I'd probably use fusion 360 or onshape.

     

    I did import the Xpider model, for a look.  But couldn't get my head around exactly what was going on...

     

    I think I need to print one to play with!

     

    Dan.

  • in reply to danielw

    Daniel,

     

    I have had a couple of goes with SolidWorks but not with any significant express. I just about managed to use it to make 2D parts for laser cutting but even then my designs had to be tweaked in some unfathomable way before they could be cut. I was constantly told how easy SolidWorks was, no it isn't!

     

    I agree that it is difficult to understand how the spider mechanism works from just looking at the parts. I think having my Tobbie is going to be aa great help as I will be able to see if I can reproduce the movements it produces. I do still think that there are too many different parts, I'm sure a simpler design must be possible. We'll have to see how I get on, and with using TinkerCAD to design them.

     

    Dubbie

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  • in reply to danielw

    Daniel,

     

    I have had a couple of goes with SolidWorks but not with any significant express. I just about managed to use it to make 2D parts for laser cutting but even then my designs had to be tweaked in some unfathomable way before they could be cut. I was constantly told how easy SolidWorks was, no it isn't!

     

    I agree that it is difficult to understand how the spider mechanism works from just looking at the parts. I think having my Tobbie is going to be aa great help as I will be able to see if I can reproduce the movements it produces. I do still think that there are too many different parts, I'm sure a simpler design must be possible. We'll have to see how I get on, and with using TinkerCAD to design them.

     

    Dubbie

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  • in reply to dubbie

    Dubbie,

     

    I have been using Fusion 360 to design all of the of the parts that I am building.  Like yourself, the underlying concepts do evade me at times, but of the CAD programs that I have tried, Fusion is the best.  I still do stumble from time to time, but if I keep trying I do find a way to get what I want.  Fusion 360 is free to 'makers' and 'startups' under the requirement that you make less than $100,000 per year.  So far, that has not been a problem for me.  There are some great videos, going through the basics of designing and managing files, etc.  I found these to me useful to a point and then I just jumped in a tried learning in simple steps.  So far, so good.

     

    Good luck,

    Gene

  • in reply to genebren

    Gene,

     

    Perhaps I'll have to think about having another go with CAD then. Maybe Fusion360 will be better for me.

     

    Dubbie