Building a better Star Wars AT-AT toy

[@AzaMinis]

I love how you pronounced it "AT - A T" to simultaneously frustrate both the A T A T crowd and the AT AT crowd

[@KrazyKaiser]

Galaxy brain stuff.

[@mysticmarble94]

He should have gone even further and constantly switch between @-AT and AT-@ 💀💀💀

[@pobbrett3244]

Yeah that worked lol

[@bornach]

I thought he was refering to the year the original toy came out which would have been the same year as The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 AT-80

[@BaronOfDaker]

@80

[@alexcampbell492]

I truly appreciate that nearly every other KZbinr would make this into a 10 part series. You have just enough detail, and an amazing body of past technical reference to make this possible. Love your channel!

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

So true, sometimes they don't even lable them, smh, it gets frustrating that i just stop watching, this one was so chill i didn't even have to fast forward it! 😃

[@SirWolf404]

I kinda miss his original long series like the GNK Droid or BB-9 🤔 Lot's of detail and research was shown in them 👍

[@Hephera]

"the @-80 from the star wars" ah i see james has mastered the "make everyone mad so they comment about it and boost engagement" strategy

[@trekintosh]

I fell for it :(

[@JordonBeal]

Came here for this comment. 😂

[@VictorGarciaR]

But later in the video he just went with @-@ so, he is in my side. Ha. Checkmate, 80-80 supporters!

[@coreinc.9658]

One thing that I think a lot of people forget about the ATAT's legs is that they are actually made of 3 sections, instead of just 2 like the toys are. There is a 3rd beam that connects to the ATAT's body in the center underneath the two other leg sections, meaning that the legs can be raised up and down as well as creating a suspension of sorts so that all of the force isnt directly pushed upward into the walker. This is sorta represented in James's creation however it is also able to move up and down. Its ability to pivot that beam left and right addition ot being able to pivot up and down gives it a massive range of motion, much larger than the robot created here. I can also see how that would be very difficult to replicate in a robot though, just because of the complexity of that joint being able to move in two axis

[@thirdeyenz]

Yeah when he said look the legs can swing outwards I was like Why? They should go up and down at the hips! But he's right in that without that it can't turn however it would be cool if he got the hips going up and down as well. Two axis on each hip joint would be tricky though. It would also help with the IK system for the planted feet needing to move backwards. *EDIT* I just looked at my Bandai AT-AT and the hip joint is a ball joint, allowing it to go up down and left right.

[@Anubis78250]

Not only that, but they had 2 axis ankle movement as well. An arched track from front to back that was hinged at the foot, and an inboard side piston. Remember it's not just a shuffle walker, but was made to be an all terrain transport. The films stop motion barely scratched the mobility of the actual design. I really miss the days of practical effects, today in movies they just turn on clip mode and ignore internal volumes.

[@markushavers2283]

Not right... You can turn the walker when the 3rd joint is only going up and down. Why ? First, you can do bigger steps with the 3rd joint. 2. you can leave a front leg on the ground and let the other 3 do a small walk motion 3. you can do smaler steps on one side and bigger ones on the other side This motions are not that easy, but the 3rd joint is the key to do a real god walking motion. The 3rd joint also was used on the AT-ST, but this one used a chicken leg mechanism. The human hip is our 3rd joint, together with our feet we manage the hight control of our steps. The feet are fixed on the AT-AT, so the 3rd joint is all that is left.

[@thirdeyenz]

@@markushavers2283 No, the small step big step won't work. You can get up and try it yourself. All that happens is the side taking small steps lags behind and has to take more steps to keep up. It doesn't induce a turning motion. But I'm now looking at the underside of my Bandai AT-AT and there is a ball joint where it connects to the body and I can swing the hips in and out and up and down. So they had the capability all along.

[@markushavers2283]

@@thirdeyenz I´m pretty sure it would work. An AT-ST will do this to walk in a circle. But i am evem more sure that an AT-AT would not even use this walk cycle. When there was a ball joint in the original design, no problem, circle walk possible. But if not, there would be the possibility to stop, turn on the spot and walk again.

[@JerryRigEverything]

Very cool video! I never really thought about the angular math behind the AT-AT's ability to walk.

[@jubaerhasan4723]

When Jerry is going to tear down a real life AT AT >.

[@tobiastho9639]

The original stop motion footage was inspired by elephants... 😉

[@chopper3lw]

Your leg design is absolute genius.I'm always impressed with how fast you iterate into something successful .

[@Grunttamer]

Well, now it’s experience but back in the day it was the power of editing

[@kederaji]

The first mistake was expecting mercy at all on Poopsock's Shitshow

[@poolhall9632]

In about 1994/95 my brother and I made a walking poseable At-At out of Lego and technic parts. The head moved side to side and the knees bent and were lockable for posing… Quite possibly my greatest Lego triumph.

[@homieboi5352]

the speed at which James is able to put these projects together is incredible

[@RuthlessMojo]

This is the build I’ve been asking for since I came across your channel. Glad to see you did it.

[@GadgetAddict]

Another awesome project and I appreciate that it's all in a single video!

[@DrWhom]

What is interesting is that the original animators managed to endow the at-at strut with a sense of menace, which is absent with James's four legs just taking turns. (I think this project is bloody awesome, btw)

[@aralornwolf3140]

I think it was the sound design team which created the sense of menace. The stop motion guys had the easy job (don't mess up the "snow").

[@GAWOP00]

@@MidwestFarmToys Grandpa At-At doo doo doo... *rinse and repeat*

[@ConsumerOfCringe]

It looks like it came from Wallace and Gromit lol

[@wizrom3046]

I think the movie version is menacing because its HUGE and has "fricken lasers on its head"

[@wizrom3046]

@@MidwestFarmToys .. especially since at their tech level they have unlimited access to high speed flying and hovering machines, ANY slow ground machine is ridiculous unless it is required to carry enormous heavy weaponry that could level a mountain in one shot or something. The little pew pew gun on the AT AT could never justify its existence. George needs to lift his game.

[@TerryOnTuesday]

Seeing it walk in the Kitchen makes me think of a walking dinner tray carrier which brings a meal from the kitchen to a specific chair! Also, it's always great to see you wearing the T shirts that you hired me to draw up. Very chuffed!

[@mileslocman]

had the exact same thought this would be a great base for a simple service bot

[@Ritefita]

@@mileslocman why not omniwheel?. simple. lol.

[@gg349]

Brilliant, love that you actually used trigonometry we learnt at school

[@JohnEdwa]

It would be interesting to see you tackle the accurate AT-AT walk cycle, as it has quite a few different moving parts. I wonder if it would actually even be possible to achieve in real life.

[@crazyfvck]

@JohnEdwa It would probably be easier to do in a larger scale, because you would have more room to work with. You could use linear actuators, hydraulics or pneumatics, etc.

[@hw2577]

The correct step pattern: left-front, left-rear, right-front, right-rear, etc.. Most AT-AT toys and fan-made versions do not step this way (and it is difficult to do, because of real-world mechanical physics). The AT-ACT by Hasbro also fails to step correctly -- it's "shuffle-pushes" by raising two legs diagonally from another at a time.

[@tobiastho9639]

If you look at elephants, they archive it every day. Footage of them inspired the original stop motion made with models...

[@davidjacobs8558]

yes, it is possible. search youtube for "AT-AT walker at Modelcon 2008" it's only about 8" tall, and made 15 years ago.

[@Talen900]

Can you fly a little drone with a cable around its legs?

[@benkramer3194]

I was waiting the cable around legs in the video !! :(

[@RobSeib]

I build at-ats out of lego mindstorms in the early 2000s so i was stoked to see James make an actually good one!

[@asdashuascar]

I just found a gem of a video and channel!! Thanks KZbin algorithm!! Thumbscribing already!

[@aralornwolf3140]

Just in case you didn't notice, in Star Wars, the AT-AT legs are on levers. That's how the legs move up and down. You can see this motion very clearly when you're looking up at the front right legs of the AT-ATs. That's how the AT-AT legs remain strait. Most, or all, toy manufacturers miss this very important detail. Are you interested in recreating this AT-AT mobility system? KZbin clip title: The Battle of Hoth in Star Wars Episode V [The Empire Strikes Back] (1980) Channel name: Worlds Greatest Clips (WGC)

[@popuptoaster]

Those "levers" do the same job your hips do except in that case your hips go across you body as one continuous lever, or in the case of a four legged animal of course, hips and shoulders. Easiest place to see it in action is probably a cats shoulders or a girls hips.

[@aralornwolf3140]

@@popuptoaster , Or in this video where he talks about how his shoulder moves up and down and he swings his arms, lol.

[@TheRealStructurer]

Yes you are right. LEGO, when will you address this?

[@JC130676]

Exactly. As impressive as this build is, the bent legs make it look like an AT-AT that needs to poop really badly, or maybe it's just a very old AT-AT... 😁

[@TheRealStructurer]

@@JC130676 😆

[@chrisvandergriff504]

This is the most consistently impressive channel. Absolutely awesome project.

[@nagualdesign]

I just wanted to say, I've been en watching this channel for years and your editing and pace has reached a really professional level. Bravo! 👍🏻

[@jacobhargiss3839]

I absolutely love your work. Its incredible. Your project turnaround is superhuman. You have been a great inspiration to me over the years. Your chanel is one of the things that got me into 3d printing and 3d design, I seriously doubt I would have gotten into it if not for your projects.

[@blueckaym]

Very nice! It's cool that you lifted both diagonal feet when turning. I was wondering if you can also walk forward this way - by lifting two diagonal legs. The feet seem wide enough to keep balance ... assuming its center of mass is in the middle of the legs.

[@Sumaleth]

"and also, quite helpfully, it can stand on one leg" shows it standing on 3 legs :P

[@iivin4233]

It would definitely be intimidating to see something as big as an AT-AT step-touching with that kind of precision.

[@123Chris1994]

Thinking about exactly this project for years but never got the time to do it. Thanks for making this and sharing the code! It's absolutely awesome and i'd like to add a more detailed Body, moving Head etc.

[@jac2206]

Thats really nice. again incredible project

[@portland-182]

Great stuff. 2 notes - the first shot of the ATAT in The Empire Strikes Back through the electro binoculars demonstrates that they too suffer from the sideways wobble. Your lovely ATAT never straightens its legs like the movie versions.

[@Robothut]

I really like the servo in the leg design. I'm going to have to play around with that. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@omniverideus]

This is really good! All I would add is to change the timing slightly on the walk so that when the left front foot is half-way through stride in mid-air, the right back foot should then be lifted, and so on.

[@DrWhom]

yes, it might look less... sedate?

[@karencox3235]

That is what I feel I want to see, but I wonder if that would make it much more wobbly....

[@jameshamaker9321]

Fantastic. I was wondering, when a walking robot walker would be made, that didn't fall over. I had a remote walker toy, when I was younger. The toy was crappy when it came to, walking on carpet.

[@danielschiavo5371]

Mmmm very interesting, but to put it in a real AT-AT..., may be a way to use only two motors alocated in the main body, which use tensors, each one controlling two crossed legs, and implementing some kind of cam mechanism in the legs?? Veeeeery nice proyect!! Good luck brave one 💪💪 Greetings from Buenos Aires 🙂

[@Arek_R.]

Very nice, now shows us it walking on uneven ground with some occasional rocks xd

[@amazac9869]

James well done for foot steps ,1-left hind(first beat),2-left front (second beat),3- right hind (3rd beat),4-right front(4th. beat).

[@Werkplaatsvlog]

Nice build! Since I was a kid these AT-AT's had my interest, maybe I should try to build a real one some day.

[@sempersolus5511]

You live a charmed life where people give you toys and building materials in exchange for you thanking them. Cheers from Chicago

[@DrWhom]

not just thanking them, promoting them on a platform that you have made worthwhile to watch let us not be blind to what James has achieved here

[@inventorbrothers7053]

This is so cool!!! Your engineering skills are inspirational 😊

[@IrregularShed]

Error at 3:43 - you don't need to print four *more* legs unless you're trying to make a quintoped 😏

[@itsjjbones]

The ramp library I haven't used before. I made a library that can basically do the same thing except for changing the PWM width over time for controlling some LEDs via some MOFFETTs. I wanted them to fade on and off while maintaining the same color. Would have saved some time if I knew about the library, but it was fun to program anyway.

[@garethalford682]

I really want him to finish making this thing and painting it and adding lights and sounds and the guns in the head of the AT-AT imagine him controlling this winter in the snow, shooting a video with camera. It would look awesome.

[@patrickpeterson6726]

Very cool. I love how you solved a lot of problems that I've been banging my head against a wall about, in regards to a lego build. Quick observation that I hope you read and maybe it will help you. I used to do a little engineering so I really HOPE YOU READ THIS - I THINK IT WILL REALLY HELP! TOP OF THE LEGS, where they connect to the servos that allow the AT-AT to sweep the legs out to the sides for turning: In the movies and in the Clone Wars, that section of the AT-AT also travels up and down slightly, like a shock absorber. It might be useful knowledge to you. You could add servos for each "shock absorber" - making the front ones more stiff and the back less, which would make it easier to hold the head up. This would also prevent the AT-AT from swaying so much from side to side while it walks, a much steadier design. I would recommend going back and watching the invasion of Hoth one more time from Empire Strikes Back. There are a couple of really great shots looking up at the bottom of the AT-AT's, they might be useful in coming up with a more helpful - cohesive design. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE your work. I really do. It's just that I've been struggling with all of these same problems myself recently and I thought I'd pass on what I've learned. I wish you good luck if you decide to make any mods and if you do, I can't wait to see them! Cheers my friend!

[@sennabullet]

amazing project. so inspiring. thank you for the inverse kinematics explanation and file share!!

[@dipperpines2793]

As I lover of Gonk droids I appreciate that one of your earlier robots was a Gonk

[@Brocknoviatch]

Awesome build! You have also just made Gromit from Wallace & Gromit. His legs are simplified and the single joints both point forward. When your AT-AT walks it just reminds me of how Gromit walks!

[@jacylight1610]

Always enjoy your videos still rewatch your BB8 builds

[@cyber0mega513]

i made an AT-AT in a building game but i couldnt find a mechanism to make it walk and turn until i saw this video THANK YOU so much for showing me this you've earned a like and subscribe

[@matsv201]

There is a Lego AT-AT model that is totally mechanical with just one drive motor. Its also quite large.

[@kantpredict]

I believe its using the same mechanism as the toy shown at the start of this video.

[@matsv201]

@@kantpredict Not quite. it have a joint that is controlled by a bar that is conected to some top bracket that alows it to move the legs with 8 joints. 4 master joints and 4 slave joints. This makes it look quite simular to the real deal. Also worth saying, there is probobly 10 diffrent lego AT-AT offical modell. I´m refering to the large technicl lego model. its called the 10178

[@Geeksmithing]

There was a walking, head moving large AT-ACT walker that was released around Rogue One that was remote controlled and even fired NERF rounds! It's awesome!

[@shrimpinpat]

I remember in the 90's going out to eat to meet my dad when he got back in town for dinner with my mom. He rolled in with a suitcase and the only thing in it was the AT-AT. Still have it!

[@davidchapman3228]

I love these videos. Well produced. Easily followed. Well Done James.

[@Mashugat]

I love your gear design! A very sleek design for exact movement with robust power!

[@luthfydzikrillah4979]

i love that you use arduino in many advanced programing rather than some more sophisticated microcontroller, it motivates beginners like me

[@eTiMaGo]

I propose calling this variant the AT-JB :D

[@richardboyce4921]

so inspiring! thank you for all the hard work and amazing designs.

[@destinyangel5]

ILM used an elephant walking as a reference to how the AT AT should walk . LEGO made a walking technical , "Power function set " with remote control and was the only set representation of a motorised AT AT, about ten years ago that has all the legs bits moving autonomously and walking functions via LEGO remote control as well that could help with this.

[@charlesvincent4127]

The toes on the feet were articulated and there were 4 not three, other than that, what you have done is pretty amazing.

[@1944GPW]

Those are really nice leg movement mechanisms with the power train hidden inside, well done. Some years ago I sketched some mechanisms for an 1:120 scale RC version of the Sidewinder from Thunderbirds, a walking behemoth not unlike the AT-AT but more 'angry' in appearance and decidedly cockroach-shaped. However the legs and movements are quite different to the AT-AT in being straight cylindrical stalks that are retracted for the step, pivoted then extended. This wasn't the difficult bit to design, what was was a heavy steel or lead counterweight block inside the body that could be moved to the diagonally opposite leg being lifted. Now I have a 3D printer perhaps I'll get back to it sometime :)

[@bimmers50e30]

this is the coolest project yet!!!!

[@bradleytreakle201]

Great job! first video I've seen on your channel and I'll be looking for more... One thing left to do... BUILD IT BIGGER!

[@AaronHendu]

I remember building a walking AT AT of my own design out of Knex when I was a child. I also built a walking gorilla mech thing. Most of my Knex was from the big ball factory set, but I had lots of the specialty bits from smaller sets, too.

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

I'm scratch building an ATACT for a friend. I made the ankle joint with the arc attached to the fee and a passive shock absorder inside the ankle. It's a static model but each leg/foot assembly balances well enough to stand on its own. I wondered if you reproduced the ankle arrangements as they are in the stars models you may achieve a smoother gait. The arc on mine obviously made by hand and guesstimate. A printed arc would be much smoother.

[@nigelfenlon9035]

Even a year later your At-At is still super cool❤

[@coryman125]

Bit of a shame nobody flew a tiny RC plane around this with fishing line to tie up the legs, but I can't complain- the project was still very cool!

[@fmphotooffice5513]

Fabulous! Might be wrong but you have a lot of torque to play with. Maybe putting lots of batteries strategically placed to power it and add enough inertia to eliminate most of the rest of the wobble. It might also give it more stability to keep it from tipping over.

[@rolithesecond]

I really like the way my Lego Motorized AT-AT walks, it's actually quite nice.

[@benanddadmechanical6573]

Very cool. I vaguely recall that the leg motion that Lucas’s stop motion puppeteers used was slightly different. I wonder if your code could be tweaked to match into that?

[@Sir_Ninonino]

Yeah, my same thoughts, the stride needs to be a bit longer.

[@michielwerring5846]

That wouldn't be possible. The AT-AT walking cycle depends on four hinges from the centre of the belly which pull the legs 'up' like a hip or shoulderbone would. Then when lifted, the legs bend and move forwards. Without the four hinges, the legs don't get the lift required to mimic the motion perfectly.

[@karencox3235]

@@michielwerring5846 I haven't looked at footage from the TESB lately, but I definitely remember them lifting higher and placing steps somewhat differently. I'm sure you're correct in your analysis.

[@toohardtowatch]

There's something about the way those legs move that makes me want to see a robot horse that clearly looks like two people in a horse costume. I think this robot is about half way there.

[@The_Nonchalant_Shallot]

All we need now is that little A-Wing drone from FliteTest and we have ourselves a party!

[@daboo123]

It's mind boggling how much engineering is needed for the movement of simple mechanical legs, yet for our own highly complex organic legs we don't even need to think about it.

[@jackraven8711]

Such a great video, this has really helped me find a decent enough way to make my BD-1 walk. Thanks 😀

[@Skorpeonismyrealname]

I do like the concept that this AT-AT has more thought and effort into getting it to work than the in-universe ones likely had.

[@CruiseCrew]

Crazy ! Always impressed of your robotic skills

[@Clever_Motel]

You should make a BD-1 that operates like a bike camera that straps to your back and autonomously records interesting parts of bike rides.

[@LuisRicardo-jv8hy]

congratulations for the video they are excellent, they could make a series of ideas about use, charging and battery control electronics

[@KrazyKaiser]

"That means AT-A-Ts would work if The Star Wars was real life!" This is one of the greatest sentences of all time.

[@DrWhom]

but they would be supremely vulnerable in a combat arena

[@santosvella]

I like this one James. Such a good idea.

[@ripvanstinkle]

Nice work! Looks great.

[@Slacking02]

AT-TE next!

[@the_str4ng3r]

I'd love to see this to scale of the star wars figures! It would be like 4 times larger but still, seeing it tromp past those figures at scale would be epic!

[@papahamdrew]

I’ve been here since iron man and hulkbuster and it’s amazing how far you’ve come.

[@stevenfaber3896]

Does anyone else want to take a fifth wheel trailer and do this to it for a massive and mobile and upwardly mobile shelter? Amazing video culmination of your efforts!

[@purpleYamask]

Now you've made 2. You've made 4... but can you make 3? I've recently been smitten by Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds and I'd love to see your take on a Fighting Machine-!

[@DrWhom]

no one would have believed...

[@rodrigomohr1277]

Wow! Great work!

[@jonathan__g]

This is an amazing build!

[@ericpullen524]

I have a very vivid memory of Christmas 1980 and getting my AT-AT. After opening it and assembly my dad stating "$50 and it doesn't even walk by itself!".

[@Charles-7]

this shows that we're one step closer to having technology as advanced as star wars, if we managed to achieved hyperspace jumps, we'd be at that level by then

[@CCampana64]

Absolutely brilliant

[@bafumat]

Okay, this is what the internet should be about.good stuff.

[@wardjunior1450]

This is an emotional rollercoaster with AT-AT pronunciation

[@andr544]

Amazing project.

[@dallasstroud8061]

Great build!

[@WolfgangKeim1]

Wow. Love that. Could you make a collaboration an turn this is a visually accurate model? I think that would get a lot of people hyped.

[@MrSaemichlaus]

Those drives in the legs are beautifully simple.

[@rursus8354]

I like how you lightning quick screw in the screws in the holes. Such speeds require centuries of exercise!

[@mothcub]

"gonk droid" the most beautiful phrase in the English language

[@keithartworker]

I am drawn to the missing shoulder joints in the original toy and many illustrations. The AT-ST chicken walker had missing hip bones in Empire strikes back but they were present in Return of the Jedi

[@Christian-rf7ox]

it is so sneaky, its a covert ops at-at. great project

[@awesomefanger]

The AT-AT’s legs were based on an elephant, so the fore legs should be reversed with an elbow instead of a knee. Also the hip or shoulder joint that other people have mentioned. Nonetheless this is amazing. Thanks!

[@ronbrideau8902]

Sweet Rig! The Tidal AT AT in my imagination just got a helipad and surfacing feet for it 30 foot tide march, scouting the Bay of Fundy.

[@vell0cet517]

If you could go back in time and show this video to your 10-years-old self, you know he'd be so excited for his future!

[@coookietm]

wow very nice job!