japanese guy pilots a working MECH

roid · Post by **roid** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 12:16 am

babelfish translated website
(look at the 2 movies)

japantimes news article

this thing is so cool. only took him 2 years to build according to the japantimes article.

disclaimer: it's feet are individually wheeled - although it looks like it is walking it doesn't actually LIFT it's feet at all. but it still looks awesome

Phoenix Red · Post by **Phoenix Red** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:07 am

This thing is useless (especially with a screaming top speed of less than 1 mile per hour). It upsets me that so much work would be put into producing something so rediculous.

Cuda68-2 · Post by **Cuda68-2** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:51 am

Mech's are coming

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:47 am

Phoenix Red wrote:This thing is useless (especially with a screaming top speed of less than 1 mile per hour). It upsets me that so much work would be put into producing something so rediculous.

You could say the same thing about the Wrights first plane and attempted flight at Kittyhawk.

Phoenix Red · Post by **Phoenix Red** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:02 am

Woodchip, the wright plane was showcasing a concept that had obvious applications but no prototype capable of carrying them out.

This thing has no reason to exist. There's a reason the military/industrial sectors haven't built one of those, and it's because it's a stupid design. The existing blueprints are objectively better.

Seriously, name something that even a refined and developed "gundam suit" could be applied to more appropriately than something that exists, such as a tank.

WarAdvocat · Post by **WarAdvocat** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:02 am

LOL

Extremely impractical, but with a fairly high cool factor, specially in Japan.

How to make these bad boys walk? Gigantic gyros? A ginormous Flywheel?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:21 am

Phoenix Red wrote:Seriously, name something that even a refined and developed "gundam suit" could be applied to more appropriately than something that exists, such as a tank.

About the only thing a "gundam suit" could do that a tank can't already cover would be terrain that would be otherwise impossible to travel in with any wheeled vehicle. But then again, why bother when you can just fly over said terrain?

I've seen this mech posted a couple times a year, it wins some nerd points but thats about it.

Sapphire Wolf · Post by **Sapphire Wolf** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:51 am

Amazing, Just amazing!

Edward · Post by **Edward** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:10 am

The concept of these suits is to simplify opperation of a wepon playtform. A person in one of these would be able to use wepons more efficientally. Take for example sniping, in a tank everything has a limit IE tirret turrning speed and requires a degree of controle that requires lots of training and as many as 6 men to opperate. A well designed mech would be much more capeable of doing more damage than a tank.

Mostly it is more the cool factor.

I think the use of platforms like these could be very effactive the problem being the cost.

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:54 pm

It's the death of the Ebglish Language.

"ridiculous".
"weapon".
"turret".

**SIGH**

They should call it the "Land Shuffler" - because all it does is shuffle. Walking involves picking your feet up off the floor. This thing is about as mobile as a Dalek.

Nice try dude: 9.5/10 for effort. But 1/10 for operational functionality.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:17 pm

Mobius wrote:It's the death of the Ebglish Language.

Can't say I've ever heard of that particular language, Mobius. Care to elaborate?

Pun · Post by **Pun** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:28 pm

What a piece of crap!

DCrazy · Post by **DCrazy** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:32 pm

The whole not-walking thing is killer. It's just an extremely top-heavy tank right now. Walking is what gives stability.

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:35 pm

LOL, could prolly tip it over with my pinky.

bash · Post by **bash** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:48 pm

Great Halloween costume, though.

Stryker · Post by **Stryker** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:49 pm

Interesting mechanical stuff going on there, especially at the "knees", but most people here are right--an ounce of lead would put the thing on its back.

Edward · Post by **Edward** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:21 pm

why lead?

Battlebot · Post by **Battlebot** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:26 pm

cuz lead is heavy

Edward · Post by **Edward** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:29 pm

No it isint.
How much does an ounce of lead weigh?
How much does an ounce of feathers weigh?

WarAdvocat · Post by **WarAdvocat** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:58 pm

Edward wrote:why lead?

I think he was implying that if you shoot it, the kinetic energy transfer would tip it over.

Sligar · Post by **Sligar** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:33 pm

Some possible uses for a working mech:

- urban combat. A mech that was small enough could be an excellent weapon for storming an enemy position inside a building, where a tank can't go.
- Jungle terrain might be a possibility, the mech/armored suit could be a bulletproof point man for an infantry column.
- In the mountains you could climb over ridges that are impassable to conventional heavy weapons.

From what I read there is currently research going on in powered walking assistance, there's some guy in japan working on this. Once such a thing exists, the next step is to add heavier weapons and armor, and scale up from there.

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:10 pm

Phoenix Red wrote: Seriously, name something that even a refined and developed "gundam suit" could be applied to more appropriately than something that exists, such as a tank.

Ummm (closes eyes, strikes thoughtful look) shoot orgasmowads at each other thru magnetic railgun penii tubes?

roid · Post by **roid** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:24 pm

Phoenix Red wrote:This thing is useless (especially with a screaming top speed of less than 1 mile per hour). It upsets me that so much work would be put into producing something so rediculous.

haha, come on mate he's an ENTHUSIAST, he made it solely for the cool factor - which i think it delivers quite well.
this wasn't made for the military or any company.

Pheonix Red wrote:Seriously, name something that even a refined and developed "gundam suit" could be applied to more appropriately than something that exists, such as a tank.

off the top of my head?
- large scale construction
- difficult terrain

there are quite a few mech projects out there. some serious (see below), some not (see above).

i've been loosely following the MECHAPS project over the years, it's is the most serious one out there if you ask me.
Unlike the guy in the OP, the MECHAPS guys are building a true walking and working mech, not for a personal project but as a prototype for true industrial use.

WarAdvocat wrote:How to make these bad boys walk? Gigantic gyros? A ginormous Flywheel?

i'm not sure what this guy is using, but you can hear the engine/s whirring along in the first video.
the mechaps guys are using simple diesel engines (not hydraulics).

will_kill · Post by **will_kill** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:28 pm

I see the Japanese storming the industrial market in the not too distant future. I'm a semi-retired heavy equipment operator and I see all kinds of potential here...remember what woodchip and Cuda said @ the very beginning??

Beowulf · Post by **Beowulf** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:10 pm

This thing is perfect for killing that pesky Robocop.

bash · Post by **bash** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:16 pm

And his little Robodog!

Phoenix Red · Post by **Phoenix Red** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 10:43 pm

Urban combat? Tanks shoot through walls.
Jungle combat? Tanks drive through trees.
Large scale construction? Glorified cherry pickers are simpler and more flexible.
Rock climbing? ...lol?

ps mobius you made a typo once

roid · Post by **roid** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:08 am

Phoenix Red wrote:Rock climbing? ...lol?

(note: "rock climbing"... you said it first)
why not, you're the one who suggested a "Gundam Style Mech" in the first place. i've not seen the show before but i imagine they are dextrous enough to augment their footing with their arms/hands.

back to reality though. walking vehicles are already around in some forms - generally because of their terrain advantages. but these have all had 4 or more legs (more often 6, like that long forestry logging vehicle we saw years ago - i can't remember it's name). 2 legged walking vehicles are quite rare however, as it stands now there are no 2 legged large vehicles - this is changing.

will_kill · Post by **will_kill** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:42 pm

roid wrote:......this is changing.

as is technology