Hi all.
Have you ever wondered how the machines in The Matrix worked,.. you know, the ones that flew around with the snakey appendiges.
Well, come to the talk to find out!
(ok, way over sold, but I have thought up a few quite neat machines in my off time, and will introduce the:)
- Airworm (which may have a somewhat-working prototype) is a flying wormlike thing, very simple in its mechanism, but grips the air like helicopters always wanted to.
- P-Wave-worm (may also have a working prototype) is a very simple to make worm. Doesn't fly, but moves like an earthworm.
- Delta-snake is a snake. Quite simple, but dextrous. It moves very much like a snake, and is named for the delta rule (change = factor x (aimpos - atpos). Each segment applies this rule, via a roller, to ensure the change in angle of the next segment is proportional to the angle of the prevous minus the current angle. Thus, a wave propagates down the snake from the first link. This first link may be controlled by servos, for the best ever remote controlled toy. It can be made to move in both axes (up-down, left-right). Not hard to make, and fully mechanical apart from the movement of the first link. Power is supplied to each segment by a rotating flexible inner rod, turned by one grunty motor.
- Delta-worm is similar to the Delta-snake, though rather than angles propagating down its length, the link-length propagates. Much easier to make. It effects the same type of movement as the P-Wave-worm, but is more controllable.