I had a thought.
I keep thinking of a rover, because wheels are efficient and easy. Then I think stairs. Then my wheeled river idea has a lot more motors, motions and the like. We’re talking a quadruped with motorized wheels on it’s feet or some even more complex motion because I’d be having it skate.
Why not just build a biped? Well, except that particular balancing act is even more of a hastle when we get talking stairs. If I went with a biped that could climb a normal stair, like a person, we’re talking something the size of a, what, three year old, bigger? I don’t know. That balancing act would be a pain. That got me thinking of other things that can do a wicked balancing act though. One of my favourites is the cat. Walking the tightrope of the top of a fence with a rolling shoulder gait, combined with an oscillating tail to be a counterweight. Still, that’s a lot of motors. Even more than a quadruped. How about a biped with a tail? Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Now that’d be wicked. Especially when I do the whole litter bit thing, because who wouldn’t want to watch a T-Rex reach down with it’s maw and
take a bite of litter. Locomotion wise, something like 11 motors. This might be reducible. Two hips, knees, feet, one pelvis, and a few for a tail. Probably could do it with two hips and knees, one pelvis, one tail. I think once I get to that point, I should build a highly articulated prototype, put it on a rail and have it walk back and forth. Have it do things like cut out motors or whatever.