Posts Tagged ‘Zenta’

MorpHex MK-II in Action!

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

morphex mk-II

Zenta has just posted a video of his MorphHex MK-II in action! This robot is an improved version of the original MorpHex robot. This robot still can transform from 6 legged cralwer to a rolling robotic bawll. The latest version of the MorphHex has 2DOF on the upper half of the sphere, giving it much more freedom and the ability to make a variety of different shapes and patterns. We can’t help but think that the MorpHex looks like a robo-flower during some parts of the video.

The video also shows off the new and improved symmetric rolling engine and a special test at the very end. And don’t forget to check out Zenta’s MorpHex Forum Thread on the Trossen Robotics Community.

New MorpHex Video from Zenta!

Friday, February 14th, 2014

Forum Member Zenta has just posted a teaser video of his improved MorpHex MK-II. The MorpHex is a robot that is capable of transforming from a hexapod cralwer into a mechanically rolling ball. The Upper half of the robot has been upgraded from a 1 dof linkage to a more flexible leg . We’re excited to see more demos of the MorpHex in action!

PhantomX Hexapod Running Phoenix Code

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

phantomX hexapod running phoenix code

Well Zenta and Kurt Eckhardt are at it again, this time porting the Lynxmotion Phoenix code to our very own PhantomX Hexapod! Running the Phoenix code, our Hexapod’s movements are smooth as silk while it scuttles across the floor in an incredible life-like fashion. Just check out these videos to see it in action.

The code for putting the Phoenix code on your Hexapod is available here. Keep in mind that this is a work in progress and may require some hardware modification of your Hexapod, so proceed at your own risk.

From the TRC: The MorpHex!

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Zenta's MorpHex Spherical Robot
WARNING: This post might make you think twice before you spin a globe violently or kick that unassuming ball down the street.

Our own TRC Member Zenta has posted an amazing video of his MorpHex Robot. The dream for this project was to ceate a spherical hexapod that can…

  • Roll freely as a ball
  • Move in any direction
  • Vary its inner-body dimensions
  • Transform between hexapod and sphere mode
  • Walk/work as a normal hexapod

By looking at the video, we’d say that the dream is a reality.

In hexapod mode, the MorpHex elegantly traverses terrain – then, very subtly, it begins to constrict its size until it’s ready to transform. In sphere mode the MorpHex can roll, stop and even dance around. And while there are a million things to love about the MorpHex, the fact that the body was constructed out of a earth globe is the cherry on top.

Zenta has entered the MorpHex into the Boca Bearing 2012 Innovation Competition and could win a $10,000 grant to further develop the MorpHex. We know who we’re voting for! Maybe one day we’ll see a whole army of MorpHexes rolling down the street!

For more history, pictures and general information about the MorpHex, check out the MorpHex section on Zenta’s Website

Zenta Strike Again! Archer the Biped!

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

If you’ve read this blog at all over the past few years, you’ll know we’re big fans of Kåre Halvorsen’s (aka Zenta) work. Father of the very popular Phoenix Hexapod Kit, A-Pod the ant bot, and more recently the T-Hex Hexapod (available soon in kit form), it’s very obvious that our Norwegian friend has an incredible grasp of Kinematics. Some might even call him a Kinematics Kung Fu Master. It’s only natural that he would blow us away with his insane math-kinematics skills when he decided to take a shot at a biped walker. Well folks, he did not fail to impress. Utilizing the new Arc-32 board from Basic Micro, armed with only standard hobby servos and an inhumanly good grasp of math, Zenta has created a new biped named Archer.

Okay, so bipeds have been done before, what makes this special? Not only does it have some of the most impressive Inverse Kinematics I’ve seen on a non-professional level, it utilizes a pretty innovative COG-Shifter mechanism that can slide the battery and onboard controller from side to side to assist in walking. Want to see it in action? Look no further!

Also, if you can’t get enough of Kåre and his awesome Norwegian accent, check out this ‘behind the scenes’ video where you’ll be treated to his very impressive workshop and a demo of how he controls his various robots:

T-Hex: Zenta just needs to knock it off at this point.

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Seriously. I’m getting a bit tired of Phoenix hexapod inventor Kara Halverson, aka Zenta, constantly showing everyone up. We get it, you’re awesome at building awesome robots. Could you please just stop and give the rest of us a chance to catch up? It’s just cruel at this point.

The T-Hex is Zenta’s newest creation, inspired by all the Mech Warfare talk buzzing around the forums. He decided to jump in and build a ‘mech like’ hexapod, complete with a whopping 4DOF per leg. And of course, in the process, made the rest of us look like complete amateurs. Aesthetics aside this thing is amazing, and the fact that he has a working IK solution for it already just adds to the fact.

New Phoenix Demonstration Videos!

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

We’ve been a bit quiet on the blog front as we are getting ready for Robogames 2009 in a little over a week and are furiously working away to finish up projects for demonstration. Our video production crew has been keeping busy also, and just finished up some new demonstration videos for the Phoenix Hexapod, showcasing its numerous features. This Hexapod continues to be one of our most popular sellers, definitely check it out!

Walking Gait Demo

Remote Control Demo

Body Control Demo

All Metal Construction Demo

A-Pod will make your jaw drop

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

We posted a few weeks ago about TRC member Zenta’s new creation, the A-Pod Hexapod. Zenta, who created the infamous Phoenix Hexapod, is seriously one of the most talented roboticists we have seen and we’re glad to call him a much valued member of our Community!

He has made some serious progress with his latest A-Pod, and rather than gab away at how awesome it is, check out the video and prepare to be amazed.

A-pod: A Robot Ant’s Tale

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

TRC Member Zenta has once again amazed us all with a new hexapod robot


Inspired by insects, this time Zenta decided to mix things up a bit. Dubbed A-pod, this hexapod is fully custom built much like the original Phoenix hexapod. Time and time again Zenta never fails to impress, we can’t wait for the videos of it creeping around in its own lifelike way!

To see the full writeup including more pictures and to watch the progression A-pod, check out Zenta’s thread in the TRC.

The Phoenix Hexapod Comprehensive Kit is here!

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

We’ve learned something over the past year: Roboticists from Norway can make some really awesome hexapods. We first met Phoenix Hexapod creator Kåre Halvorsen (who goes by Zenta on our forums) when he entered his amazing creation in our Project Contest. Needless to say, he won by a landslide vote. He went on to work with Lynxmotion and Jeroen Janssen (who goes by Xan on our forums) to develop a kit based version of his Phoenix with complete wireless PS2 control!

We are now proud to carry the Phoenix Hexapod Comprehensive Kit! This kit contains everything you need to build your very own wireless controlled Phoenix Hexapod. It even comes pre-programmed with Xan’s Wireless PS2 controller program. Words can’t describe how amazing this robot is, you really have to see it in action so check out the video below!