5 June 2014
Just last week, I wrote about yet another man with a dream. What is his dream? To build a giant six-legged (hexapodal) robot you can ride. You may not know it, but this is a surprisingly popular dream. Such a robot, “The Mantis,” is already available – not for sale, but you can rent it for special occasions directly from the creator, Matt Denton of Micromagic Systems.
MICROMAGIC SYSTEMS & VIDEO
There’s a second giant rideable hexapod in the works. Gui Cavalcanti, Dan Cody, and James Whong of the Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville, Massachusetts, are working on a prototype of a giant rideable robot spider. They’ve turned their project into a class project.
Project Hexapod & Stompy - image
And, finally, there’s Jaimie Mantzel, the rideable spider robot builder who took to his lab high atop a Vermont mountain to build the giant rideable robotic hexapod of his dreams. But Mantzel took a detour.
After building a miniature prototype of his planned giant hexapod, Mantzel was struck by an idea. The prototype was so cool that children would want to play with it. So, why not manufacture the miniature as a toy? And adults could, and would, also buy it for themselves (while pretending to buy it as a “gift” for a child.)
American toy manufacturers passed on the miniature hexapod, but Wow Stuff of Wolverhampton, England, expressed interest. A YouTube video of the miniature prototype in action went viral. How did the public “see” the miniature hexpod? Well, the suggested names showed that the public considered the hexapod to be toy military weapon. The most suggested name? “Attacknid.” The miniature hexapod took its place with Wow Stuff’s line of “Combat Creatures.”
Combat Creatures
A Rideable Spider Robot turns into a Toy Battle 'Bot
But it’s only a toy. Right?
Well, . . . it started out that way. (dramatic pause) But things are rarely so simple . . . .
The first signs of trouble came when a video surfaced showing the “Attacknid” being tested as a psychological weapon against munchkin cats! Who conducted these diabolical experiments? DARPA at Area 51? Not even close. It seems that “everyday people” are now developing their own “black projects.”
Spider Robot Attacks Munchkin Cats
But maybe this is just an innocent video of someone playing with his or her Attacknid and a bunch of munchkin cats? Doubtful. Other recent videos show Attacknid -- taken to the next level.
An enterprising technologist mounted a laser to Mentzel’s Attacknid and has posted videos showing the “toy” bot frying balloons with its laser a/k/a “death ray.”
Attacknid Weaponized -- No Balloon is Safe!
Then, the same technologist developed a second generation prototype. In the next video, Attacknid is shown equipped with a camera and remote feed -- in addition to its balloon destroying laser.
Remote Controlled, Armed Attacknid Now Can "See"
But maybe we can head this off. Perhaps Mentzel’s miniature hexapod can be controlled somehow . . . .
It’s too late. Mentzel’s original technology has already inspired a new generation of robotic hexapods. Young technologist, Matt Bunting, has built his own robotic hexapod out of spare parts. He plans to equip the ‘bot with artificial intelligence.
More Miniature Spider Robots Being Build From Scratch
The End?
See also: Jaimie Mantzel’s You Tube Channel
ROBOT MAN: The Story of Jaimie Mantzel
Just last week, I wrote about yet another man with a dream. What is his dream? To build a giant six-legged (hexapodal) robot you can ride. You may not know it, but this is a surprisingly popular dream. Such a robot, “The Mantis,” is already available – not for sale, but you can rent it for special occasions directly from the creator, Matt Denton of Micromagic Systems.
MICROMAGIC SYSTEMS & VIDEO
There’s a second giant rideable hexapod in the works. Gui Cavalcanti, Dan Cody, and James Whong of the Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville, Massachusetts, are working on a prototype of a giant rideable robot spider. They’ve turned their project into a class project.
Project Hexapod & Stompy - image
And, finally, there’s Jaimie Mantzel, the rideable spider robot builder who took to his lab high atop a Vermont mountain to build the giant rideable robotic hexapod of his dreams. But Mantzel took a detour.
After building a miniature prototype of his planned giant hexapod, Mantzel was struck by an idea. The prototype was so cool that children would want to play with it. So, why not manufacture the miniature as a toy? And adults could, and would, also buy it for themselves (while pretending to buy it as a “gift” for a child.)
American toy manufacturers passed on the miniature hexapod, but Wow Stuff of Wolverhampton, England, expressed interest. A YouTube video of the miniature prototype in action went viral. How did the public “see” the miniature hexpod? Well, the suggested names showed that the public considered the hexapod to be toy military weapon. The most suggested name? “Attacknid.” The miniature hexapod took its place with Wow Stuff’s line of “Combat Creatures.”
Combat Creatures
A Rideable Spider Robot turns into a Toy Battle 'Bot
But it’s only a toy. Right?
Well, . . . it started out that way. (dramatic pause) But things are rarely so simple . . . .
The first signs of trouble came when a video surfaced showing the “Attacknid” being tested as a psychological weapon against munchkin cats! Who conducted these diabolical experiments? DARPA at Area 51? Not even close. It seems that “everyday people” are now developing their own “black projects.”
Spider Robot Attacks Munchkin Cats
But maybe this is just an innocent video of someone playing with his or her Attacknid and a bunch of munchkin cats? Doubtful. Other recent videos show Attacknid -- taken to the next level.
An enterprising technologist mounted a laser to Mentzel’s Attacknid and has posted videos showing the “toy” bot frying balloons with its laser a/k/a “death ray.”
Attacknid Weaponized -- No Balloon is Safe!
Then, the same technologist developed a second generation prototype. In the next video, Attacknid is shown equipped with a camera and remote feed -- in addition to its balloon destroying laser.
Remote Controlled, Armed Attacknid Now Can "See"
But maybe we can head this off. Perhaps Mentzel’s miniature hexapod can be controlled somehow . . . .
It’s too late. Mentzel’s original technology has already inspired a new generation of robotic hexapods. Young technologist, Matt Bunting, has built his own robotic hexapod out of spare parts. He plans to equip the ‘bot with artificial intelligence.
More Miniature Spider Robots Being Build From Scratch
The End?
See also: Jaimie Mantzel’s You Tube Channel
ROBOT MAN: The Story of Jaimie Mantzel