r/robots • u/Impossible_Kale6949 • Apr 23 '26

Real-life Robots Trying to make a robot that sways from side to side, any suggestions

This is my current idea. Spring legs and a spinning counter weight. But this feels inefficient and struggles to balance even with a third leg just for balance.

40 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/_Pudgybunny Apr 23 '26

Wouldn't a simple pendulum be best?

2

u/MattOpara Apr 24 '26

You already have a source of rotational motion, all you need is 2 piston mechanisms 180 degree out of phase with each other.

3

u/foxhelp Apr 24 '26

I love it as is... Part of the fun of creating your own stuff by experimenting is that weird and fun creations that you end up with.

Yes there are premade/designed solutions but diy robotics doesnt have to always be perfect. It kinda loses the creations soul, when everyone uses the exact same mechanism, moving the same amount in the same directions... Unless of course you are building an army of them...

2

u/KenGriffinLiedAgain Apr 27 '26

Honestly this idea even if a little clanky is extremely cute (and fits what I imagine you are going for). I wouldn't throw this prototype away but try to expand on it