Gosh, you ask tough questions! Because you are awesome at what you design and build I want to see all of them built!

My vote is for 2 because it would continue your work with Alan or 6 because that dog design seems to be catching on.

I plan to build them all for sure and then some! As long as budget holds out and the time to build them!

...Boston dynamics plans on mass producing its dog robot. I of course have a really cool concept for one! There is a Japanese company selling a similar robot dog for a cool $30,000. I think I’d rather build my own!

Will,

As long as GotG 3 gets filmed, you'll no doubt have the project.

I vote for #2 (animated Alan face! How cool!) and #5. Thinking Iron Man Mk. V suitcase, only a robot? If so, you could combine #5 and #3.

Well, i'm biased so my first answer is: Make me an Alan so i can buy it

My alternate answer is NOT a humanoid. There are far too many humanoids out there! It seems cute friendly pet-like robots are a hit these days - but that doesn't mean they'll last. So if you're moving quick on the next robot, something fun and interactive would be popular.

If you're interested in assisting with EZ-Robot's education initiatives, you could build something that we can sell?

Personally, I have never met a tank tread robot I haven't liked, and I would love to see your take on it, so I vote #4.

Alan

@ warpig If marvel doesn’t convince Disney to rehire James and or use his first draft script, the film could be shelved for later release even tho it introduces the Phase 4 for the next Marvel Universe.

@alan I like tank treads too. But never built an operational version. Would be a challenging but fun build.

@dj I definitely have not forgotten about the Alan. I think after 7 years of designing and building I needed to take a break from him. Artistically speaking there are a line of robots that need releasing from my brain! I’m really enjoying it! But, I promise the next one will be yours!

I think I agree with you on the humanoid robot. I’d put my spin on it but a lot already on the market.

I certainly would entertain the idea designing something you could add to your line up! Let me think on that a bit and we can chat about that privately.

A body for Alan!

BTW I've been throwing around the idea of building these projects in conjunction with producing a Youtube channel, sorta like Tested with Adam Savage. I do WAY better behind the camera, but figured with a sidekick like Alan or Alena co hosting the channel I might be able to pull it off. I think videos would cover the build, sourcing materials, mold making, 3d printing, 3d model making, painting etc. In some segments, I could travel to some of the effects shops in LA, covering pro tips with some of my buddies.

Sound interesting?

@cem It just seems like a no brainer..right? I've been digging deep into the wheeled scooter motors, they are powerful and take up way less room than wheel chair motors.

Yes, its a no brained, it completes the Alan project!

I think the Robot host show on YouTube would be good. He comes up with the idea and you build it. Antonn and I would watch. Sounds like a fun thing. Maybe build a four legged beast as a companion for Alan. Everyone needs a pet.

I would watch your YouTube channel for sure!

It would be fun watching you on YouTube build a Will-Al- Ena. It / he/ she could be your pet something. Maybe a visitor from the Avenger or Guardian type realm or maybe a scarier place, Here. I think it would be fun to see a complete creature able to interact and move around, but with a mind of its own.

I thank you for the robot creations you have shared so far and I know you will come up with something cool.

Yes on YouTube channel! WIth Alan and Alena as sidekicks, it could be a regular MST2K (whee!)

I'm following the GotG 3 debacle; I'll leave it at that (no place here).

Bottom line: no matter what project(s) you choose, it will be cool!

I like the idea of you making a walking robot. Another Alan is more of the same even if it is awesome. A body would be nice. You could go two routes: 1: take Alan and simplify it for 3D printing and do an open source release. Then it is just not reading about your projects but people could participate while building their own. You could see a society of sub-Alans develop. 2: go more complex and make a walking bot or waling dog type. Expand the state of the art for home builders.

Just some thoughts.

24 inch walking robot.

Some really great thoughts and input....you got my gears spinning..

Will,

not nice, teasing the community !

1. I would love to see your ideas / improvements applied to JD Humanoid (walk movement).

2. Tank bot is nice, although a mars rover (rocker-bogie suspension https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocker-bogie) works everywhere.

3. Alan - add emotional face elements, neck movements additional mobility similar to (Jiibo)

@fxrtst I guess whatever you touch will be gold! BUT the idea of a You Tube channel seems to be a game changer for me...you are very good in keeping this community up to date with all the progress. So you would widen your audience a great deal! This would benefit future projects, Kickstarters etc... Plus, since you are working within the film industry, you know more than anyone about whats going on in a variety of fields! I a pretty sure you'd know how to set up a good show in the FXRTST CAVE!

You could even use it to promote Alan and Alena further, by being Co Hosts in your show...

@ptp I am still working with Unity a great deal these days, there is a lot of very interesting possibilities within this platform! I just stopped to develop the JD App because it seemed to be impossible to animate a walking gait for him, but I am still thinking the JD App would be great for kids and EZ-Robot enthusiasts at the same time! Currently I am working on an Android App for my robot, which I hope to showcase soon! I think all of this could be very well integrated in @fxrtst 's future projects too since the Unity/EZ-B connect that you developed worked flawless!

@mickey666maus , Thanks! The idea of a Youtube channel is growing on me. I sat down this weekend to run thru all the possible directions to take a channel. I'm thinking it will be robot focused but I may encompass makeup effects as well. The issue with such a large en devour, it will be very time consuming. I will need a way to monetize it to match my current wages, which means I'll probably have to review products as well. Like a Tech Tuesday or something like that. Probably I will have a sponsorship video here and there and alot of affiliate links. The good thing is I don't think there is a channel on youtube that would be like mine.

Hi Will, these ideas are fabulous. but a 2 foot walker will need some heavy duty servos and the big problem with all walkers is the you cannot really do any odometry so simple mapping and accurate movement is very difficult. Alan is so amazing that adding a moving body would be incredible! What I did with the ALTAIR EZ:1 is to make the lower part look like legs but still use skid/steer which can do very accurate movement and mechanically is very easy to do. The EZ:1 has 32000 clicks/clocks per wheel revolution and works really well the Kangaroo X2. Here are some pics

Hope this is of some help. Tony

@fxrtst ...I would not mind you reviewing products at all, it is the right attitude trying to get paid for the effort you put in! Plus there might be some good stuff out there for us, which we would miss otherwise! I am very aware of the time consumption social media is taking of you, if you are up to get to the point where it pays back!

If you are willing to put the time in, I am sure it will be a great channel!

@toymaker Thanks for the info in how the robots locomotion works. I’ve spent some time designing and test different designs and have definitely decided to incorporate a sort of Alan riding a Segway approach. These scooter wheels I’ve sourced are so cool, the ones where the stator and rotor are within the wheel design. And they are cheap!

@mickey666maus I’ve been looking at some of the most successful YouTubers like Casey Neistat, his editing style and great youtube cinema photographers like Peter McKinnin, and of course shows like Tested. These channels promote the style and in the case of Tested the content, of what I’d like to produce. I could prolly get subscribers pretty quick by having Zoe On! Lol. It’s alot of work but could be a doorway.

These scooter wheels I’ve sourced are so cool, the ones where the stator and rotor are within the wheel design

Will,

Sounds interesting for something I’m looking at for my InMoov, could you share the link where you sourced these from?

Cheers Chris.

@cem,

You can find new wheels on ebay for as little as $27 each! Here is a link and example:

Ebay hover wheel replacement

Here is a video converting it over to an hbridge control.

This interesting link will deconstruct the wheel so you can explore its inner workings. Also the thread this is connected to is a users group for this amazing controller this guy created called the ODrive controller. He continues to develop and will eventually have a PWM option. Serial i believe is already supported.

Deconstruction and ODRIVE

I am working with hover board motors now using this controller board qs-909. I ended up buying a completely different set of drive motors and controller because I couldn't get them to work. They have a ton of torque and can hold a lot of weight. I haven't given up on them, they are just a pain in the butt.

Update on the Odrive driver board. As of 15 days ago the creator has released firmware that now officially supports PWM and hoverboard wheels with hall sensors. These boards are pricey at $125 but thats for 2 channels up to 48v and 100 amps peak.

Here is a fun project using both:

This is awesome! Thanks for the info! I'll have to pick up a Odrive driver board

Im so using those for next robot

Looks like a nice board. It's comparable to a Roboclaw or a Sabertooth with a Kangaroo attached. It will be good to see if this board is as durable as the two I mentioned. It's good to have options.

I forgot to add a link to the control board. Here are some of the specs.

KEY SPECS Controls two motors. 24V and 48V versions available. Peak current >100A per motor. Continuous current depends on cooling: Details. Encoder feedback for arbitrarily precise movements. Supports two braking modes: Brake resistor. Regenerative braking. Optional use of a battery means you can achieve very high peak power output with only a modest power supply. Open source: Hardware, Software

INTERFACES USB -- Custom protocol, open source PC, RaspberryPi, etc. ROS node (coming soon). Step/direction -- Existing motion controllers UART -- Arduino (with library), mBed, etc. Servo PWM/PPM -- RC Recievers, Arduino, etc. CAN -- CANOpen and CiA 402 is a possibility. Some general purpose digital and analogue pins

PROTOCOLS Many types of command modes Goto (position control with trajectory planning) Position commands Velocity command Torque command

ODrive

...also circling back to my first post in this thread. Guardians 3 has officially been cancelled for 2019. This opens up my schedule and should included lots more robot building!

Which is sad, but a blessing for the community at the same time!

Sucks about Gard3. I was really excited about seeing it. Good though for you having more free time for robot building. Can't wait to see what pops out of your fertil mind.

I really like the specs of this board. Only drawback I can see that it doesn't support 12v. Kinda cuts out a lot of motors found in robotics.

@dave I havent forgotten about your pinball machine...we will just have to wait a little longer to get those autographs! It might happen in 2020! Fingers crossed.

As for the board...the author of the board says: ODrive 48V can operate at a bus voltage 12V to 48V. I think he misunderstood the question, but i assume the 24v will work 12-24 volt as well?!

EDIT: From the website DC power voltage input range:

24V version: 12V to 24V. 48V version: 12V to 48V.

@Mickey Thanks!

No worries on the autographs. Thanks for remembering. I'm honored. No hurry at all.

Great news about the voltage. I appreciate that you cleared that up.