XRobots Iron Man: Video added page 22, fours years into 4 mins

[mizuno hadouken]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: WIRELESS helmet with motorized faceplate video adde

Xrobots...have you looked into using bluetooth tech instead of ir? Just curious since it seems bluetooth would be easier without having the line of sight issues of ir.

 

[DRACKULL]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: WIRELESS helmet with motorized faceplate video adde

Great Job!!

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: WIRELESS helmet with motorized faceplate video adde

Xrobots...have you looked into using bluetooth tech instead of ir? Just curious since it seems bluetooth would be easier without having the line of sight issues of ir.

Yes, but there are simpler and cheaper simple radio modules than bluetooth, although still not as simple as an IR LED:

RF Connect Radio Boards (AXE213) - Hardware - PICAXE

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: WIRELESS helmet with motorized faceplate video adde

I've decided that I'm going to take a slightly differently approach to my suit's strapping system than usual. My plan is to build a semi-rigid exoskeleton that the wearer puts on first, and then have the rigid armour parts attach to that with tapered pegs/sockets and lots of strong magnets. The plan is that the legs will also split back/front and be held on in the same way.

This is for a number of reasons:

-Generally putting a suit on like this is tricky because you can't reach your opposite shoulder once the torso is on so you can do up straps/buckles.
-Similarly trying to attach the chest plate while the arms are on is tricky.
-Putting the legs on may create an issue bending to put the feet on.
-Getting the suit off in an emergency could be an issue (like if you're on fire).
-This gives me something to mount electronics and an Arc Reactor replica on.
-MOST IMPORTANTLY: doing this way means it's easier to build a machine to place the pieces.

So I've started building an aluminium frame for each part of the body which will be easy to put on securely single handed/by the wearer. The sections will be attached by straps/buckles etc.

More details and progress here: XRobots.co.uk - Iron Man Exoskeleton strapping system

Yes - a machine, just (almost) like in the movie.

Here's a crap diagram:

 

[Helagak]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

james, I dont know if i should laugh at you for being the biggest nerd on the planet, or praise you for being the biggest nerd on the planet! haha! :lol

you are an inspiration! i love this idea and have actually been thinking about making something similar for about a week or so. the difference is, your DOING it. im just dreaming.

 

[bacster7]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

James, i have come up with an idea and im not sure if it would be possible so im asking you, the electronics wiz. Have the leds have the wires come down to the very bottom of the faceplate and poke out a bit, then have a battery pack somewhere in the helmet and have the positive wires on one side and the negative wires on the other, then when the faceplate closes the wires on the bottom would hit the wires to the battery pack hence, turning it on. Would this work? How many AA or AAA batterys would you need?
Thanks, bacster7

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

James, i have come up with an idea and im not sure if it would be possible so im asking you, the electronics wiz. Have the leds have the wires come down to the very bottom of the faceplate and poke out a bit, then have a battery pack somewhere in the helmet and have the positive wires on one side and the negative wires on the other, then when the faceplate closes the wires on the bottom would hit the wires to the battery pack hence, turning it on. Would this work? How many AA or AAA batterys would you need?
Thanks, bacster7

Yes, or you could use a magnetic reed switch and a magnet to turn the lights on. But since I have a micro controller in there, for me it's easier just to link the LEDs to that and program them to turn on and off.

The number of batteries will depend on how many LEDs you have as well as their rated voltage and current. I have an electronics series which discusses wiring LEDs amongst other things: XRobots.co.uk - Electronics tutorials

 

[IMIM2]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

Hi Xrobots,
I had that idea before , but encountered several issues.
Perhaps I can share my experience and thoughts

1. How do you link space between the armor and the body. I tried to illustrate that. You mentioned about tapered pegs/socket. I have no idea what these are.

2. I was thinking about using a strap of velcro-connecting armor to skeleton, but the space between will vary depending our movement, muscle contraction, position of undersuit, velco is way too flexible.

3. But if we use something rigid or semi rigid like perhaps foam, will that work?

4. Instead of using aluminium (wow), perhaps just use 10mm foam strips?

5. I tried using magnets, 12 magnet discs to be exact- three on each contact surface, on chest side. It is still not strong enough to hold only the chest. It keeps poping out, even tough they came back to the position again. I soldered a wire, function as on/off for my arc reactor. So as the result, I had malfunctioned arc, depending on the side chest connection.
I am worried if you use bigger magnets, it will stuck on different pair when trying to slide and arm for example, unless you place the magnets not inline ( I don't know how to explain this, but hopefully you understand what I meant)

6. Since the thigh and the calf is linked, perhaps the exoskeletion should go that far below. Just like bicep and forearm

7. Can you make the elbow, thigh like a cage system, put a hinge, so it'll clap onto the bicep/thigh like crocodile's mouth. That'll be cool

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

1. They are pegs and sockets which get thinner at one end, like cones, so they locate easily into the correct position. The magnets will near these to hold them in place, and this will also stop the armour moving sideways/up/down once it's in place. This will fill some of the gap between the exoskeleton and the armour, the rest will be something else rigid, or possibly foam sheeting with a rigid lining, we'll see how it goes once I get that far.

2/3/4. The exoskeleton has to be rigid and made to fit the person so that the armour fronts and backs are always the correct distance from each other. The exoskeleton is lined with foam for comfort - this is no different to, for instance, a leg brace that you wear for medical reasons etc.

5. I don't understand what is pushing the armour away from the person. As long as the pieces don't bind on each other then it'll stay in place.

6. The leg exoskeleton section will have calf and thigh pieces, I haven't decided if they are hinged or just linked with straps yet. The arm exoskeleton section has only a bicep piece because the rigid armour is connected/hinged at the elbow anyway.

7. Probably, although it may just be one continuous strip with a fastener on one side as rely in the flexibility/spring of the aluminium (or a plastic strip) to allow you to put your arm etc in, then tighten it.

I should probably add that I tend to build everything as I go and see how it works, so depending on how the exoskeleton fits, and how the pieces fit to it / move against each other, I may change the plan/method...

 

[IMIM2]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

thumbsupthumbsup:thumbsup

Just worried about the exoskeleton has to fit certain individual though.
Per#5, I don't know how to illustrate. Just disregard that for now.

Looking forward for the progress.

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

thumbsupthumbsup:thumbsup

Just worried about the exoskeleton has to fit certain individual though.
Per#5, I don't know how to illustrate. Just disregard that for now.

Looking forward for the progress.

Yes it does, it's for me - it would be possible to make minor adjustments but basically making it fully adjustable would involve quite a lot of extra work so that the armour pieces still fit correctly whoever wears it.

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

Small update on this - it fits me a lot better than the mannequin though.

More at: XRobots.co.uk - Iron Man Exoskeleton strapping system

 

[Helagak]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

I love this! I don't think it's necessary for my foam build. Maybe someday I'll make a cast suit and I cand build an exoskeleton... :-/
Keep up the good work. Looks awesome.

 

[bobafettsslave1]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

Looking good.

 

[Kevin Gossett]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

How much extra weight are you expecting this to add?

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

How much extra weight are you expecting this to add?

Not much - it's pretty light weight at the moment, plus it's distributed over the body...

 

[TKSteve]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

Once again, amazing work. Also once again, I have no idea how you did it. LOL.

 

[mrclaybo]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

HAve you seen this plastic coating for foam? If you look at the bottom another builder used it for his armor. I wrote him and he said it worked great and you don't have to but the PVA on first. I've ordered some and will let you know how well it sticks and how strong it is.

http://www.industrialpolymers.com/product-list/styrospray-product-list/styrospray/

 

[lokey69666]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

Hey dude.
Fantastic as always.

 

[XRobots]

Re: XRobots Iron Man Mk6 UPDATED: Exoskeleton strapping system started

HAve you seen this plastic coating for foam? If you look at the bottom another builder used it for his armor. I wrote him and he said it worked great and you don't have to but the PVA on first. I've ordered some and will let you know how well it sticks and how strong it is.

StyroSpray Hard Coatings : Industrial Polymers

Yes I saw that a while ago, but you can't get it in the UK, so that's what I started experimenting with other materials that you can anywhere off the shelf.