Ordis Solarius Articulum Kapacitusbankus Abampere Quinquaginta OSAKA50

By Gareth
@ February 3, 2011

• Actuators / output devices: 2 xCD drive door motors
• Control method: Differential Sun-Following Code
• CPU: No CPU however supports a 6 capacitor memory
• Operating system: Miller Solar Engine
• Power source: 2x8.2 V @ 153mA Dagu solar panels
• Sensors / input devices: Solar-Panels
• Target environment: Sunny Destinations (For Hire to distant sunny lands, as long as Owner can chaperone)

AOP :- Just look at those legs

.... as a Bonus for sending my SchneeBeast for a Theo Jansen exhibition in Japan.

The original kit was powered by the wind and indeed it drives forwards in the lightest of breezes. (as proved by rik)

However it was calling out for a bit more power so what i present here is Solar powered version.

The basic idea was to split the beest in half and drive both sides independently.

With this configuration it can be set up to find and follow the sun.

Driving the motors calls for a  "Burst Mode" technique in the form of a Miller Solar Engine.

The Miller Solar Engine basically charges up a capacitor bank (6 x 3300uF in my case) from the solar cells.

After a predetermined voltage ..... all the power stored in the capacitor bank is transferred into the motor via a drive transistor..

This means that a much more powerful jolt can be supplied giving more power and torque, the plus factor is that it also gives OSAKA a very organic movement.

The Gakken magazine in question can be found here....

Otona no Kagaku Magazine (English).

Otona no Kagaku Magazine (Japanese).

And Non Stream Videos can be found here.... yes all 8 of them :-

OSAKA6.wmv OSAKA5.wmv OSAKA4.wmv OSAKA3.wmv OSAKA2.wmv OSAKA1.wmv OSAKA0.wmv OSAKA7.wmv

I bought the Solar Cells from OddBot (Dagu)

Sunny Field Tests.........Sun from the OSAKA-50s Left

Sun from OSAKA 50s Right

Ultimate Test - OSAKA 50 has been placed with his back to the sun