My newest robot invention... Spider Tank

[TechBear1]

Sweet!

Is making robots your hobby?

You're realy good.

[JMEMantzel]

Thanks! Ya. You could say its a hobbie. :-)

I've always loved figuring things like this out. :-)

[xtruma]

we share one thing in common... i am myself very very curious about many things, i fi had the time and the resources, i would fdefinitely build my own robots, rc planes, own furniture etc...lol nice one though.... cool concept

[spiderweb20]

sounds just like the spider robot toy from He-man.

[forsalololo95]

How big is it compared to other things

[JMEMantzel]

its about a foot tall. or 30cm. ...roughly

[forsalololo95]

ok thanks thats pretty good work. i would buy it.

[TheUnknownD]

omg sweet dude

[schootingstarr]

cool, dude :D

[steelstrings1312]

uhhh...... this is like star wars come true

[MADNEXXION]

niiiiice, it moves so good!!!. can you post more details about the making? exelent work!

[tmprice2007]

Wild Wild West Movie?!?

[CaviMike]

Not to be a dick or anything but spiders have 8 legs.

[TwoMenMafia]

lol just looks like one

[Element0war]

Put Missile launchers on it, and a 50 cal machine gun on it, then... make it 200 times bigger and you got solution to Shortage of troops in Afganistan

[TwoMenMafia]

lol

[uberKy]

wow, really cool. what is it made of?

[JMEMantzel]

Plastic. I got it from a company called smooth-on. Its a 2 part thing... kinda like epoxy.

[ManilaCoolCat]

Cool!

[jhoags92]

Its kinda slow but oh well, really complex movement.

[mindsoulbody]

that was...INSANE. DOIDS or ZOIDS? It reminds me of all sorts of robots. XD

[GONARUTOSONIC]

ur are a pure GENIUS

[JMEMantzel]

shhhh.... don't tell anyone

[swiftpool]

how can you make the mechanism that makes it move like that

[JMEMantzel]

well.... I'm really really smart. :-P

[infidelguy]

Dude... find a professional toy painter and sell these. :) I'd buy one.

[JMEMantzel]

I've showed it to a few toy companies. They all think its cool, but... doesn't fit into their marketting blah blahblah

[preppypinkpjs]

cool 4/5 stars

[NuguSmedley]

Anyone else remember Zoids?

[rossandzach]

O, I do...good times...

[NuguSmedley]

Aye :)

[tally12671]

awesome!!!

[krisrox99]

that was cool man!!

[kmfdm5]

creative i really dig it

[onexero1]

nice clone wars toy

[hdgasm]

i hope your giant version of this goes well, im watching all your updates!

[cheeseeric1]

lol

[flashguy234]

if i saw tht thing walk into my bedroom.. i'd shit my pants

[LamaPaj]

AWESOME!

[ArccaToothus]

looks like a tamagachi from ghost in the shell complex, pretty neat though!!!

[JohnTraviss]

I think you're thinking of tachikomas.

[EvilFingers]

LOL its spelled Tachikomas not Tomagotchi.

[gunluva]

Tachikoma.

[troyqld08]

good effort bud

[inanium]

this is..oh so sweet.

brilliant.

[BlackValentine82]

i would love to buy one!

[xxaxnxtxhxoxnxyxx]

that is bad ass! i build a lot of rc but this... way awsome. there should be a 1:1 scale model that should work but there is a problem... it cant go on grass or anything other than cement. it will sink being so big.

[JMEMantzel]

err... I don't know what else to say other than.... thats just silly. I'm going to let you figure out how to solve the terrible sinking in grass "problem".

ha ha. Thats like right up there with "how do I get the cereal out of the box?" and ..."do I tie my shoes before or after I put them on?"

[coldridge4665]

i might point out that humans have the same problem, walking on snow. or rather, we did..

[JMEMantzel]

ya... some real shmart man once did this thingy where he uhh... derr... put these dang ol' tennis racquets on his uh.... what'r they called.... feet.

:-P

[heyawhaw]

Hahaha ... some people!

Can they say "prototype stage"?

Do elephants wear stiletto heels?

[JMEMantzel]

or course elephants wear stiletto heels. It helps them stay ontop of the ground... you know.... because that tiny little point.... is really good at not sinking into things.... uhhh.... derr....

[coldridge4665]

stiletto heels, and red toe nail polish...

they hide in the cherry tree well, and get there gracefully....

[budsiskos]

omg, i think i just figured out how this works! ill create a model on inventor tonight and see if it works out.

but it really would be like the holy grail to many people here to have even just a picture of the internal mechanism.

[JMEMantzel]

whats inventor??? Is that a computer program or something?

[budsiskos]

yah its a high-end computer modeling program.

but is it using a slightly offset motorized crank arm to alternately push and pull all the connected limbs in one direction and the whole top rotates to change the location of that offset and in turn changing the direction of the pull? Or am i just completely off.

[budsiskos]

you should try to get a military grant to fund development. the military gives money for things like this all the time.

[JMEMantzel]

all the time???? well how the hell do I apply?!

[budsiskos]

try grants. gov

[JMEMantzel]

ok, I'll check it out. I tink I've been there before, but I'll give it another look. :-P

[budsiskos]

Any luck?

[JMEMantzel]

No... not much luck. Its such a mess in there. ...and grants for individuals are hard to find.

[budsiskos]

it may be a long shot but you could try segway inc. or FIRST. pretty much any of Dean Kaman's organizations are extremely interested in funding development of engineering ideas and they have millions of dollars to back them.

[aznman2000]

or simply join the military and go to iraq for a year or 2

[JMEMantzel]

uhh..... I think I'll pass on that one.

[metalhoodmetalhood]

hmm make it more silent and sell the prints to a toy company, I think everybody who saw this video wants to have one now^^

[JMEMantzel]

Its actually not that loud in person. The volume is turned up. :-P ...and toy companies aren't interested. ...at least the ones I've spoken with.

Its too... radical. Too... unusual ....original.... allkinds of things I thought were GOOD!

[metalhoodmetalhood]

radical?? a walking spider is something that even 15 or 16 year old people want to have, not just a mini-racecar

if this costs 40€ i would definetely would like to have one

but keep up the good work, everybody here thinks your doing great! :)

[JMEMantzel]

exactly.. its not a lame old normal R/C car so they don't know how to market it. Toy companies don't try new things. ...because it throws unknowns into their budgets. stupid accountants.

[LaddieGalicia]

LOL YOU GOTTA BUILD A HEAVY REAL ONE :D

[JMEMantzel]

Check out the video's titled "Giant Robot #XX"

I am building a big heavy one. :-)

[bAIRSOFTGUYd]

sweet,how long did u take to make it?

[JMEMantzel]

2 months to build this one. ...but this is the 4th version of this type of machine I've built. Each one is an improvement.

[planky11]

Wow, that is pretty cool. The movement of it is a little unnerving!

[berdashore]

bad ass

[wingedsuperyak]

Cool robot. It must be nice to have the technical skills necessary to make such a neat device.

[JMEMantzel]

actually... I didn't have the technical skills to make it when I started.

[CheeseNips4U123]

Thats but geez its really loud

[JMEMantzel]

you have no idea how loud it is. ha ha. you control that with your volume button.

[golchak]

spider?

with six legs?

.....spiders have 8 legs, not??

[sjogge123]

Doesn't matter... If he could make it walk and go to any direction by a radio controller thats fucking awesome.

If i where the mader i wouldnt care if its has one less or more legs,just that i walk is the point

[JMEMantzel]

thank you. :-P

[JMEMantzel]

err.... woah, you'r only the 100th person to say that. good work. spiders also aren't made of plastic, and steel. ....and aren't radio controlled...

[stueythehampster]

that things frickin' awesome!!

[luc4mz]

awesome

[Eschatus2]

But it would be useless and debilitated as soon as one of its legs is blown off. Back to the drawing board.

[JMEMantzel]

actually, it would be very easy to put emergency replacement legs on it that could deploy in a second. ....just losing a bit of mobility.

[sven2507]

na not good invention, used to be on tanks in the army who would lift the leg in to place fit it etc , would be to hard , no wouldn`t work would take to long to repair , one man can fix a broke track link would take the whole crew to change a leg of that thing who would man the gun/radio/ ect while their fitting the dam thing and where would you store it in that tiny little turret , couldn`t strap it to the top without restricing people getting in and out , dont think so pal ! nice toy though

[JMEMantzel]

ha ha. Well, i guess you just know everything, don't you. Good work, but.... you can keep all those rediculous limitations to yourself. I'm going to keep building awesome stuff. Thanks.

[gnututs]

You could mount a Phalanx gun on it.

[JMEMantzel]

can I mount a banana split on it? mmmmm, banana split.

[rodstartube]

wild wild west

[hodioe]

Does all this stupids don't understand so spider is only a term? It's not necessary to a real spider. All project of this kind can be called Spider. your project is excellent, by the way!!!!! 5 stars!!!

[JMEMantzel]

thanks. :-)

[JMEMantzel]

I would..... but you probably wouldn't pay what it would cost. This one took 2 months to build. :-P

I might make molds for all the parts and make a few more in the future.

[HeavenlySalvage]

Could you build one to sell ??

[southpark1029384756]

cool sounds like that gun bot from pikmin 2

[JMEMantzel]

It is that gunbot. Err.... ok ok, I've never even played pikmin. :-P

[larn555]

it's good, but it's a bit creepy

[JMEMantzel]

why's that a "but"!?

[AssassinXCV]

spiders have 8 legs, that only has 6 legs, its more like an ant, then a spider

[JMEMantzel]

your word "then" is has an e instead of an a, so its more like then than than.

On another note. I'd say its much more like a spider than an ant. Aunts have multiple segments with legs coming out of each piece.

...although it all you can see is 6, not 8, then.... ya.

[AssassinXCV]

but still, your robot is really cool

[JMEMantzel]

thanks! :-) Oh... and someone said its a spider crab. They have 6 legs. :-P

[biglimpnotoe]

best typo ever

[Tristan4lies]

you should make a vid showing how you made it.

or you can do that with your next creation

[midnightrider1233]

more like crabtank

[JMEMantzel]

Ya... call it whatever you want. :-P

[artistkeith3]

Perhaps it's a spider crab. Look it up.

[JMEMantzel]

OHHHH!!!! Snap! Spider Crab! YES!

[forsalololo95]

how bigg is it??????

[JMEMantzel]

A little under a foot tall.

[forsalololo95]

amasing i love it. inspirating and how can i make sothing like that??????;)

[JMEMantzel]

OK.. think of what you want to make.... then think of how to make it.... and keep thinking ..... and thinking..... and thinking..... then do what your brains told you. :-)

[artistkeith3]

Of course! That's how it always happens! That's genius!

[Naoki03]

omg

creepy

but cool :)

[leftglove]

hehehe yes i can imagine, no i was just curious really!!!i come up with these ideas but sometimes -usually -they dont really match my skills.. also i live in ireland so it would be ridicuolus to ask you, sorry.good work tho!!!!!!

[JMEMantzel]

Ithink you should try to do it anyway. :-D I bet you'd learn a lot..... as long as ya don't give up

[jyjyericz]

what do u need for it? cus i am a 4th grader and i need to make a toy for the science fair in 27 Feb. This Toy wud really hlp me win. I can also say that u HELPED ME

[leftglove]

a big job would it be????? a lotta hassle???

[JMEMantzel]

ya, :-P quite a bit of hassle. Hypothetically, to get me to do it, would likely take more resources than you're willing to spend. I'm just guessing based on the regular requests I get from people to build them something almost impossible for like 30$, and magical non existent free materials. :-P

[leftglove]

hiya-do you know would it be possible to make two adult sized human legs and have them walk around an art gallery- avoiding things?ie not bumbing into everthing and everybody??????? in jeans.

[JMEMantzel]

Yep. definitely possible.

[shikatwin]

Did you really make that? Cuz I saw a toy like that before.

[JMEMantzel]

Really? I've never seen anything like this in any store. Thats why I built it.

[Valkmir]

gotta love smart people :p

[JMEMantzel]

I must not be very smart. No ones loving me. :-P

[Valkmir]

Well i don't know if thats the problem, but smart people tend to not be so social

i donno if that may be the problem, but if it is, go out, go party, go fuck :p

[JMEMantzel]

actually, the problem is that I'm not interested in most people I'd find in the event of me going out to "party". "Party" is another word for "Get drunk" now.

Thats kinda boring.

[pereeldelospalotes]

Hi, Im from Spain and Im interested in this kind of projects.

Ca you please send me or post the complet design of you creation?

[JMEMantzel]

There are no designs. I maye draw some and post 'em some time, but its a really low priority for me.

I think its more interesting to see the things people have designed themselves anyway. :-)

[pereeldelospalotes]

You will help a lot of people the day you post them.

Yeah, it is way better, but I think its a good way to learn doing projects that you know are going to work.

Not everybody has the knowns to design this kind of things.

[budsiskos]

well could you at-least give a close up of the mechanism please

[IexoPeoa]

Ghost in the Shell, too. o.o I want one. xD

[JMEMantzel]

Ya... everyone is all like, I want one. ...ofcourse they want it for free.... or for like 20$. ha ha.

[IexoPeoa]

Could always patent it and license it out to a toy company, they could probably punch 'em out for $20 a pop, and they'll be rich, and you'll be rich, and I'll be happy 'cause I'll have my own little RC spider tank. XD

[JMEMantzel]

Aw, you make it sound so easy. I've already spoken with a couple toy companies. ...and nothing's, and they're the most boring people ever. All they want is toys that are the same as the ones already making money. I haven't found anyone looking for something new yet. If you want to drag some toy company over, and make them look, feel free. :-)

[budsiskos]

perhaps you could sell it yourself to prove that there is a market for something like this.

also, try wow-wee. they bought the idea for their rc dragonfly from an individual inventor

[JMEMantzel]

I sent wowwee an e-mail. No response. I spose I have to be pushier. ugh. I hate the business world.

[LeLionNoire]

Hey have you thought of showing it to Defense research companies? that platform has alot of potential for development. Might i suggest that you keep the plans to yourself.

[JMEMantzel]

well... no one is knocking down my door for the plans. ..but if you know anyone who might be interested, lemme know! :-P

[SkyCardis]

Um...Star Wars much?

[JMEMantzel]

wooo, ya, I liked the big imperial walkers in the snow.... I was about to go on about when and which episode, but....... I'm pretty sure everyone knows. :-P

[1managainsttheworld]

that was cool :D

[ItsaUFOduh]

today its radio controlled robots, tomorrow its genetically engineered rutger hauers

[biglimpnotoe]

that is absolutley fantastic will have to lookinto ths two part casting material

[JMEMantzel]

Ya, that stuff is super great.

[paperjack93]

Can we have schematics, please ?

[cmdrsquid]

what...but...how...

good job thats pretty amazing.

i couldnt do that

[h3adcrabbio]

METAL GEAR....

[jeroen79]

Oohh!: jamius,com/Robot/LikethisB,jpg­

[SHINIGAMI1337]

what is is made from and how?

[JMEMantzel]

Made from plastic. Its sort of like epoxy. Mix 2 liquid parts, and it solidifies. I made molds of all the pieces.

[EdurarTe]

is freakin awesome, did ya really made it from scratch because it´s totally complex!, please could you post some pictures? or maybe some plans?

[JMEMantzel]

Yep, made it from scratch. ....I'm making a bigger one too. ...like big enough to drive around in. :-)

[watermelonman515]

holy fuck thats awesome!!

[Gruntshooter]

Make a Tachikoma and sell it on Ebay for $500 and it'll be gone in seconds.

[sOnarPL]

Awersome

[JM888ALLALFAMAL]

MSG ME ON MSN MESSENGR !!! ID IS jane22fall F

[BauerMECH]

Quite interesting. Really well done. Does it's head position correlate with the locomotion of its legs... like a clutch mechanism resulting in walking in a specific direction? I assume there's a single motor driving the legs?

[JMEMantzel]

Yes to the head facing he walking direction, and yep, one motor for locomotion. ...and one for turning. :-)

[ZombieMahem]

looks like something that should be in Star Wars! lol

[majoraswrath132]

i made a wosp with a nedle for a sting:)and a heli like way of flying:)

[tensazangetsu13]

kinda looks like a early version of tachikoma

[zafy2]

Reminds me of a Reaper Drone from Universe at War

[odyma43]

nice

[Flyborg]

Cool. As it spins the head around, I expect it to fire volleys of missiles at the tiny armies which I can only assume are converging on it.

[JMEMantzel]

Ya... I made a little autofire cannon for it too... its in a box somewhere... probably a littel smooshed now.

[leightonworks]

That's cool :D

[beatleman523]

coolest robot movement synchronization i have ever seen

[DudeParallel]

1) Make an army of these

2) Become supreme overlord of Earth

3) ????

4) PROFIT!

[shyshy503]

1) make ME your buddy!!!!

2) Make an army of these

3) Become supreme overlord of Earth

4) ????

5) PROFIT!

[raptorxy9]

is it a toy or did u actually make it if u did thats pretty fucking awesome!

[JMEMantzel]

It is a toy.... and i made it. ....from scratch.  Every single part, as a matter of fact. Even the gears. :-)

[Learntohalotrick]

How? because that amazing!

[tobo88]

spiders have 8 legs

[JMEMantzel]

Oh my gosh! you're like the first person to say that! Oh wait.... after the other 400 people that did. Nice work. :-P

Thanks for the anatomy lesson.

[NarutoFanMan5]

It could be used as a street patrol unit. :)

[Coffeeeggsbacon]

Wow, that's some nice 3D animation there.

[thingydiddle]

its not 3d animation

[Coffeeeggsbacon]

Yes, it is.

[JMEMantzel]

err... ya.... if I could make 3D animation that good, it would be almost as impressive as actually building the thing. As it turns out, its an actual working model. So, eat my shorts.

[Coffeeeggsbacon]

Prove it.