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How to make a robotic suit out of K’NEX

Robotics has always amazed people. People keep coming up with new innovative projects everyday. Some of them work, while some need improvisation and some create history. The robotic suit is just another addition to feather. It is an external framework to the body; in scientific terms, it’s an exoskeleton. It gives strength to the body and keeps them active. It’s useful when people are recovering from injuries or ailments. It even acts as a prosthetic limb, i.e., when people have lost their arm or leg, it acts as a substitute. It is mostly recommended for old aged people as well as for especially able people of the society. It increases the strength and resistance of the body. They are mobile. They are actually split parts and can be worn separately. It is very easy to wear. It is used in nuclear works. It also used in astronomical works. Scientists are finding ways of implementing such a creation in daily lives. Any type of construction or design, i.e., especially made for children are called as K`NEX.

Robotic suit out of K'NEX

Difficulty level: Easy (For first timers. Anyone can do it)

Time required

It takes almost a year or more for completion of the project. It takes quite a lot time, since even after completion; it needs to be tested as well as needs to overcome any technical errors that may have cropped in while making it.

Resources required

  1. Miscellaneous K’Nex parts
  2. PVC pipes
  3. Elastic cords

Estimated cost

It is estimated that the cost of a robotic suit is about the cost of a small car. The cost is too high for personal use. Scientists are trying hard to get the prices down but technology is a barrier. The cost even depends on the quality and number of sensors that are used in the suit

Instructions

1. Taking all the measurements for the suit

Measurements are very important for making the suit. Any mistake in measurement can make your suit completely valueless for you. To make correct measurements, you can use cardboard boxes. So before making the head of the robot first of all you take a cardboard box that fits to your brain. Use the dimensions of that cardboard box for making the head of the robot. Similarly, you select cardboard box for your shoulders and legs and your arms. Making the eye of the robot suit need very accurate measurements, so do that carefully. Any mistake in eye portion can make you feel uncomfortable in wearing the suit. Similarly using the cardboard measurement technique you can also take right measurement of your arm holes, leg holes and right measurement of your chest portion, too. All these measurements can also be done by tape or any other measuring instrument too but the use of this technique will save your time and make your work easier.

2. Head of the suit

This robotic suit is made out of K’NEX. When anyone first looks at it, it seems to be a bundle of tangled colorful wires. Well it’s been designed out of 7000 pieces. It’s been redesigned except for the helmet. Now, this is even stronger and rigid. It took almost a year in designing this suit. Interestingly, its helmet has eye flaps that can even open and close. The head also has an opening so that it can be worn easily.

3. The torso of the suit

The part that covered chest up to stomach, i.e., torso, was considered the most difficult part to design. This suit looks just like a life jacket. It is quite flexible and can be worn easily. One can lean and bend to their side wearing this without any difficulty. It comes with an opening in its center on the front side.

4. The arms of the suit

The arms were considered the easiest part to be designed. It has flexibility; one can easily twist their elbows and move hands. Even the wrist could be rotated and bent. The fingers were able to move properly and could even hold things without any difficulty. The shoulders were redesigned. Earlier there was restriction on 360 degree rotation of arms. After it was redesigned, that difficulty was overcome.

5. Legs of the suit

There was a bit improvisation done with legs. It was done so that one could move and run properly. One could bend their knee by 90 degrees. One could pivot on their ankle. Same like the torso, even the legs opened from the center to down with foot folded out so that one could wear them properly by stepping in it.

6. Final display of suit

Finally when all the pieces were fully designed and created it was attached together. A frame was made with PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) pipes. Many elastic cords were used to hang from their shoulders on the frame made. Wearing them was very easy. It just took 10 minutes to wear them.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How to fix the various parts together?

A. The head, torso, legs and arms have the opening from the center on front side. Just by slipping in them, one can wear them easily.

Q. Can the suit be worn on bare body?

A. No. It should be worn only after body is well covered with a good and strong fabric.

Quick tips

1. The robotic suit must not be lifted and placed continuously. This will cause damage otherwise.

2. The suit has sensors attached to it. So it must be carefully worn or taken off. If any failures of sensors occur then whole system fails to work.

Things to watch out for

1. People need to be extra careful while wearing each of its part. Its parts must be checked regularly to ensure that no part is defected or damaged. Any little damage may take the life of a human being.

2. When the use of it is over, it should be immediately taken off. The suits are heavy in weight.

3. Unwanted movement should be strictly avoided. This results in loss of power, which is a major issue.

4. There are certain restrictions on the movements of the suit. It should not exceed those motions.

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