Weird Experimental Robot Mechanism

Ad: Go to ground.news/jamesbruton for an objective, data-driven way to read the news. Save 40% on the Ground News unlimited access Vantage plan with my link and deep dive on your favorite topics with clarity and context.
I built a giant Tentacle Robot and took it to EMF Camp, and then let everyone have a go on it. This tentacle robot uses giant oblique angled swivelling servo sections made from plywood and 3D printing to move it's body. On top is another tentacle operated by cables with the manipulator on the end. The whole things is wireless (for now) and controlled with ESP Now.
Inspiration from: • LEGO Oblique swivel jo...
Check out: ‪@MattDenton‬
You can support me on Patreon, join my Discord, or buy my Merchandise:
***************************
Discord: / discord
Patreon: / xrobots
Merchandise: teespring.com/stores/james-br...
***************************
Other socials:
***************************
Instagram: / xrobotsuk
Twitter: / xrobotsuk
Facebook: / xrobotsuk
***************************
Affiliate links - I will get some money of you use them to sign up or buy something:
***************************
10% off at www.3dfuel.com/XROBOTS - use code XROBOTS at the cart screen.
Music for your KZbin videos: share.epidemicsound.com/xrobots
***************************
CAD and Code for my projects: github.com/XRobots
Huge thanks to my Patrons, without whom my standard of living would drastically decline. Like, inside out-Farm Foods bag decline. Plus a very special shoutout to Lulzbot, Inc who keep me in LulzBot 3D printers and support me via Patreon.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
Below you can also find a lot of the typical tools, equipment and supplies used in my projects:
Filament from: www.3dfuel.com/
Lulzbot 3D Printers: bit.ly/2Sj6nil
Bearings from: simplybearings.co.uk/
Lincoln Electric Welder: bit.ly/2Rqhqos
CNC Router: bit.ly/2QdsNjt
Ryobi Tools: bit.ly/2RhArcD
3D Printer Filament: bit.ly/2PdcdUu
Soldering Iron: bit.ly/2DrNWDR
Vectric CNC Software: bit.ly/2zxpZqv
CAD content is sponsored by Autodesk Fusion 360

[@jamesbruton]

Ad: Go to ground.news/jamesbruton for an objective, data-driven way to read the news. Save 40% on the Ground News unlimited access Vantage plan with my link and deep dive on your favorite topics with clarity and context.

[@aussiegarbo752]

I love the video's and I'm glad to be here 2 minutes after upload!

[@romanbengaldrole4061]

I’ve recently created a KZbin channel (Innovasciences) and was wondering if you knew companies who could sponsor my next video (an AI security system), as I need 40€ worth of parts. I’ve already sent about 15 emails and only two companies have replied (and won’t sponsor me).

[@danielpalecek4090]

really? promoting flat earth? as someone smart enough to build a robotic tentacle and other projects?

[@vaisakhkm783]

Now coilnfiuze is gonna make that don't he??

[@Nobe_Oddy]

You have gotten REALLY GOOD with your welding skills!!! I remember when you first started welding the aluminum and you were worried about how ugly they would be, but you do make some clean welds my man!!! (but it's been all aluminum.... I don't know how different welding steel really is, but I've heard man times that welding aluminum is a lot hard than steel... so that is AWESOME!)

[@arashsalimi555]

My favorite part is where he said "it's chassis time!" And chassised all over the place.

[@eTiMaGo]

was he wearing a chassis-ty belt? :D

[@jasonnovak6630]

*proceeds to chassis* insparational

[@makeyspace]

haha, I ruined the 69 likes

[@keldantv2540]

@@makeyspace no you didnt

[@theodore-lion]

Yes or when he sang "most underwhelming gripper of the week" really took me off guard haha

[@motor_misc]

I love the way James builds a giant 2.5m tall robot only to put a tiny gripper on the end of it! 😆

[@Avetho]

The tentacle arm skipped hand day XD

[@godlugner5327]

🎶 most 🎶 un 🎶 der 🎶 whelm 🎶 ing 🎶 grip 🎶 per 🎶 of 🎶 the 🎶 weeeeeeek 🎶

[@DadofScience]

No, James, one was a lot of work. Three is a massive effort. Three and all the rest is a mammoth project for a solo maker. Brilliant stuff and much hard work.

[@zubrkabbi]

I don't understand how you build bigger and bigger robots in the same time frame between videos, but this is pure awesomeness!

[@jamesbruton]

well it has been a few weeks

[@meJaso]

Editing

[@vell0cet517]

The real question is how anyone could possibly go camping WITHOUT a giant tentacle?

[@BeefIngot]

Obviously only posers

[@kyleeames8229]

That not a tentacle, it’s a genticle. I just had to make the futurama reference. Okay I’ll see myself out.

[@aussiegarbo752]

"Okay I'll see myself out" HAHAHA.

[@vinnyvince23]

🦀🦀🦀🦀Hooray, people are paying attention to me! 🦀🦀🦀🦀

[@skyinou]

On a robotics point of view, it's great, but.... should have put the disco ball at the tip of the tentacle!

[@TheEPROM9]

I built a Skutter from Red Dwarf with my partner & took it to CFZ 2024, it has appeared in a few people KZbin videos now. The parts that were expected to cause problems did but I was already prepared for that one. We used ESP NOW & it was flawless, funny thing was we were not the only ones to bring a robot, just bought the most complex robot.

[@ADurXD]

There is only one phrase to describe James' channel. "Pure, unfiltered, uncensored child-like joy at creating things."

[@MonsieurFlange]

Take a shot every time James says "bearings"

[@jamescollier3]

😮😅

[@vaisakhkm783]

15 times?

[@RobinHouston]

It's more fun if you pretend he's saying “bear rings”

[@gusobrien8491]

or “1.2mm nozzle”

[@Mr.Donahue]

It's official James is practicing to become a super villain.

[@teresashinkansen9402]

I heard he is making a super weapon, something along the lines of manipulating gravity and creating a singularity. Rumors say that he is wanting to achieve it by placing together all the 3D prints he has.

[@ngarewyrd]

The only question I have on a project like this, "Just how many skateboard bearings did you use?"

[@MumrikDK]

If it takes a sponsor for such a small part, you know it's a ton.

[@eTiMaGo]

... yes

[@anonymous.youtuber]

The FTV footage makes it so extra worthwhile! Gotta ❤this creature !

[@MarinusMakesStuff]

Lovely content James. And a nice documentation of EMFcamp. It's always so nice to see enthusiasts grouping together to do wonderful stuff.

[@ThisFinalHandle]

Great build. Use a stepper drill bit on an impact driver for recessed holes in extruded rail and box steel. It'll change your life.

[@nomfg]

I always wonder how much filament and printing hours go into each project. Would be so interesting to see!

[@LanceCSTCuddy]

Very abstract and cool. Form over function can be legitimately inspiring.

[@rikvermeer1325]

Wow, best build yet!!! Loving it and what a great place to demo the machine

[@gizelle-s]

I sometimes go back to your old videos, just to hear that awesome music you never play anymore..

[@wurstelei1356]

Me too, you know where it came from because I cant find its source...

[@pblm6772]

you should try building a ridable walking robot next, the 1.2 mm prints seem strong enough

[@Rebar77_real]

See that one that just did a 5K? Imagine a saddle on that!

[@NyeMechworks]

Those are much harder than you'd think: folks tend to underestimate the leverage involved in the legs. I've experienced it firsthand :D

[@MattDunlapCO]

He made an omnidirectional riding robot last time he went to this camp.

[@rickybloss8537]

The speed at which you upload is actually impressive.

[@woodennecktie]

you build and get it working (sort of) so quick . it must give a lot of joy . being a bit of a perfectionist and suffering from low budgets syndrome , I think watching you is making up for a lot of mis out's . my projects mostly happen on the tabletop in a very famous abs pre fab components . kudos !

[@gekfurian]

Glad to see you used the strongest shape to build your robot.

[@Sven_Dongle]

The way I handle safety is to have a constant dead man interrupt that consists of one or more encoders, or hall effect switches, on the moving parts that when activated signal an interrupt to the PWM timers that control the driven parts. The timers re-activate when a control signal comes over the link. So at every rotation or half or quarter rotation the timers shut down, the drives disable, and only enable on an active control signal. In this way there has to be active, constant input from the controller to activate the PWM timers that activate the drives, thus providing foolproof safety. If properly coded you never notice any sort of lag or indication that an active disable of the PWM signals is occurring.

[@SarahB381]

What I've experienced in a form of Industrial motion control is that there's also a heartbeat signal on the command link. If you miss more than eg two consecutive heartbeat signals, drop out the motion enable relay as part of the e-stop circuit.

[@Sven_Dongle]

@@SarahB381 Then you are taking up bandwidth on the command link. There is also latency in processing those signals. On top of that if that portion of the system fails, you may still have free running timer oscillators sending control signals to the motor drivers. The key is to never have motor driver signals enabled in any state that leaves free running timers, and to disable them at the lowest latency and lowest processing level possible.

[@NyeMechworks]

With my mech I have a dead-man interrupt built into the code: on every cycle if no input signals are detected (strings such as "Leftbicep up" or "walk forward") power is cut to the motors since all the motor controllers are wired into 2 main ones (arms & legs) that are digitally controlled.

[@SarahB381]

@@Sven_Dongle I didn't say it was the only layer. It's another on top. If you're doing safety related motion control with an RC mindset, people are going to get hurt. RC radios arent a robust protocol, so if the TX disappears you need to be sure you disable the drives & go into fault. It's no use saying "but I turned the radio off, it should've been safe" if EMI causes a half rotation & you loose a finger.

[@aussiegarbo752]

Love it dude so cool! Great flashback to Mark's video.

[@homedad3324]

You are an inspiration to me. You bring to life things that have been in my mind for years but never had the ambition to build. The build quality and time you take to make your projects is amazing. True brilliance.

[@Variety_Pack]

3:54 oh man, i love chassis time!

[@simonabunker]

You are going to need to move into a warehouse if these creations get bigger! Looks like a fun camp.

[@metalworker3]

Love the idea of these camps where curious and supportive people come together to learn, share, and dance wildly!

[@jamescollier3]

Such a tremendous amount of work and knowledge!!!!!!!

[@TheOriginalCoolDad]

Brilliant project! I was laughing because as soon as you were talking about the idea of putting a chair on it, I immediately thought of Colin Furze and then you said it. LOL!

[@Francois_Dupont]

i so love it seeing all the symetrical wire loom that are wrapped and all neat in his remote control.

[@scooterboom4157]

man the work and trubole james goes though all for our enterteainment

[@sips3812]

I absolutely loved this video. people in joy with a cool tentacle

[@leighguptill9244]

All I gotta say is that I'm glad you use your powers for good, and not evil.

[@krellon]

Once I saw the shoes I couldnt unsee them :P - Great job on the tentacle too :D

[@lastniteintown]

looks to me like the worlds most elaborate spliff passing machine

[@spustatu]

I can't believe it took me so long to find your channel. You're so dang smart and seemingly very educated. And you bring that special English tone to your videos that I think is just plain delightful. This was extremely interesting. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@Cockerham]

Incredible!

[@meapjuice]

What a beaut. This robot (with some rgb leds) would fit so well into the VIVID Sydney light festival...

[@finlaybichan1275]

I did not read "tentacle" when i glanced across the video title....and i'll be honest "giant Testicle robot" would have been funnier! 🤣

[@SmoMo_]

This is very good robot , well done!!

[@Ethan-de5kt]

EMF camp looks sick. I love your shiny sweater too

[@daveyboon9433]

Love it! Thank you for this.

[@eekee6034]

"...an umbilical, which is just a posh word for a bit of wire." I like this guy already. ;)

[@anon_y_mousse]

Neat. I especially loved that you welded a frame for it. I'd love it if you incorporated welded frames into more of your robots for some extra sturdiness.

[@Octojen]

It was great seeing you at emf again! Cool robot tentacle thing!

[@grantcatdone3417]

24:40 bros got the silver victor soto fit.

[@Rebar77_real]

Gotta love when brilliant people have fun. I hope you can do this forever Mr. Burton! (tentacle-style end effectors are available off the shelf these days eh. maybe a giant clone using bladders made from pool toys. could even attach sucker feet at that scale, heh heh. rainy day idea, cheers)

[@bats-are-just-Puppy-with-wings]

Got to love the random 'Harry hill tv burp' reference 😂😂😂

[@newmonengineering]

I wish I had the time and money to build something like this. Its amazing how quick you produce these massive projects. You could cover each section with a tarp or something like that to make it have some skin. Very cool project.

[@barrettdent405]

The shoes are perfect. Maybe you could make a robot follow you in the dark by looking for those.

[@mohammedbakkar938]

I have been watching you for years, I really hope one day you could consider teaching others or upload some courses online

[@scottgallagher5]

one day, one of your projects will become a revolutionary new way to move people & things while forever being cemented in history. Keep up the research!

[@elijahbrickey151]

I can’t believe it only took you a month to make this, literally insane

[@clonkex]

I chose to take a drink of water right as the video ended. My screen came very close to getting an impromptu shower.

[@magicalpencil]

ELRS is definitely the way to go for an RC link, it's as solid as your amazing builds! 😊

[@HardTechPodcast]

Awesome robot!

[@DorifutoRabbit]

Respect for the flickering light warning, and great project!

[@thermidorthelobster4645]

You’ve really excelled yourself with this one.

[@rolar321]

You should definitely do a "Behind the scenes" type of video episode where you show which projects you kept and which ones you dismantled for parts for newer projects. Even if you have a workshop, or if you do this at home. May be interesting for us who subscribe to your channel. Even if you have any exchange with other KZbinrs in the UK or other countries

[@OwenEvansMusic]

23:39 omg Harry Hill's TV Burp reference 😂 I feel like this is a very niche british pop culture reference only a handful of people will get so it makes me very happy 😆

[@mvadu]

1:26 1.2mm nozzle!! That's some impressive hot end and extruder on that printer!

[@chrisgenovese8188]

awesome!

[@cybercraft17]

best enginner toys on youtube

[@spikeydapikey1483]

Bravo!

[@Madpegasusmax]

Very nice :D

[@thedeloachsdoyoutube8377]

Can we see a shop/house/Old Projects tour? And do you reuse components from old projects or do you buy new every time? Awesome stuff dude. Make On

[@diggidan]

I would love to see a video of you modeling theese kind of things. So. Many. Components. And I feel overwhelmed when I try to design a 4 part thing xD So I would love to see your approach for modeling. Thanks for great content!

[@donaldburkhard7932]

So much electronics! Wish I knew at least 5% of his knowledge.

[@focusmore2715]

sounds more like colin furze project got meeeeee 🤣🤣 23:15

[@oculicious]

I don't understand how you are this productive 😅

[@aserta]

Go with 2 mm nozzle and 2.85mm filament (or 3) and get a slicer that allows you differential printing (that is to say, allows you to print certain areas in one regime and other areas in another) so you can print the filling and non vital surfaces in speed and the vital ones slowly and with more definition. Also, the smush, set it with a credit card for maximum layer adhesion. That should give you a very strong part.

[@jonkf7548]

Would be a cool platform for some sort of programmable mobile artillery. You send a firing instruction containing some coordinates to the tentacle, it automatically drives out into the open, unfurls, moves into range, calculates trajectory and arm angle and launches some sort of projectile.

[@DendrummerMC]

Oohh, nice seeing the lego video getting a larger scale adaptation. On a side note, I remember making a rig in Blender3D using inverse kinematics to determine the rotation. Also remember running into an issue where it would snap middle segments 180° between 2 frames. The target flat would have barely moved though, so in the sense of calculating the target positions it worked quite well. It just ignored physics. EDIT: fix typo

[@haileymccurry3756]

i see you're bringing the funk out for chassis time

[@parmsib]

I will never understand how you manage to have such incredible output. This is SO MUCH EFFORT, and SO COOL

[@richards7909]

Watching and thinking what it needs is a chair on the end and there’s only one man to ride it: Colin Furze. Seems James beat me to that thought! Brilliant project and loved the night footage :)

[@alfonsoPina]

man, that camp looks like a fun time

[@NigelMelanisticSmith]

The shoes fit the project surprisingly well lol

[@venomrdx5223]

this man built this robot hand alone 🙆🙏🏻

[@Rebius]

Electronics and Drum n Bass, sounds exactly like my kind of event :D

[@Samtagri]

1:56 less than 2 minutes in and the scale makes you look like a mad scientist building a robot to take over the world.

[@aserta]

Needs a hand on the end so it can pass on the mustard at the table. :))

[@keenheat3335]

pretty amazing you were able to field repair the robot with 3d printer

[@tenchuu007]

It's a GLADoS. Mount it to the ceiling! Cake!

[@sirplantain]

James, your robot nearly took my head off.

[@Nobe_Oddy]

I would LOVE to be able to go to EMF Camp!!! It looks like LOADS of fun!!! But even more I would LOVE to be able to go to Maker Fest this week :'( But I am unable to :( there are SOOOO MANY of my FAVORITE youtubers there, and SO MANY COOL PROJECTS I would LOVE to see in person!!! And honestly I would LOVE to meet you ion person James, Just so I can shake your hand and Thank You for Keeping Nerding Cool!!! If I had a 3D Printer (and a TON of filament... and apparently TONS and TONS of BEARINGS lol) I would be trying to make cool gadgets and robots, and it's all because I discovered your channel and you have shown me what's possible and just how easy it is to get to making!!! And of course there are a TON of other makers there that I would love to meet to... like SOOOOOOO MANY!!!! Oh you're so lucky you're there!! It looks like a real blast! HAVE FUN and BE SAFE!!!

[@googleyoutubechannel8554]

Remember, every time you're sitting on your bed watching youtube... James is building robots...

[@itsyaboikirbo]

god i love tentacles

[@marcusrobbins854]

I've been working on a mini version of this as a tentacle for halloween. But I've got side-tracked by a new design for an infinitely variable transmission. One day I will finish something.

[@a.........1._.2..__..._.....__]

So you made a teachers pendant and a robotic cell. Neat, will you also teach lock out tagout at opensauce?

[@MarkEichin]

Having one of these constructions work In The Field (literally) for days and days, instead of just enough for a couple of videos, is *amazing*. I'm curious what the inverse-kinematics equations look like for the full build, especially given that it's still hard for *humans* to control...

[@vitorpaixaofernandes1328]

You are insane. Love your content

[@jayzo]

23:40 I miss TV Burp so much.

[@jamesbruton]

Yeah!

[@andy2950]

James, your voiceovers sound exactly like the science tv programmes we were made to watch at school in the 80s.😂✌🏼

[@NekitGeek]

You can make robot with turbojet engines and variable thrust vector

[@OZtwo]

Love the music! damn i miss Disco! You had me up dancing! :)

[@aeris-mo]

Nice