Page 52 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

THE BODY OF THE ROBOT 21

A shell or covering is sometimes placed over these robots, but the “skin” is for looks only (and
G sometimes the protection of the internal components), not support. For the most part, the main
bodies of your robots will have exoskeleton support structures because they are cheaper to
build, stronger, and less prone to problems.

FLESH AND BONE— AND WOOD, PLASTIC, OR METAL

In the 1926 movie classic Metropolis, Rotwang— a disgruntled scientist— transforms a cold
and calculating robot into the body of a beautiful woman. This film, generally considered to be
the first science fiction cinema epic, also set the psychological stage for later movies about
robots, particularly those of the 1940s and ’50s.
The shallow and stereotypical character of Rotwang and his robot creation, shown in the
movie still in Figure 2-9, proved to be a common theme in countless movies since. The
shapely robotrix changed form for these other films, but not its evil character. Robots have
often been depicted as metal creatures with hearts as cold as their steel bodies.
Which brings us to an interesting question: Are all “real” robots made of heavy- gauge steel,
stuff so thick that bullets, disinto- ray guns, even atomic bombs can’t penetrate? Yes, metal is
a common part of many kinds of robots, but the list of materials you can use is much larger
and more diverse.

• Wood. Wood is an excellent material for robot bodies, especially multi- ply hardwoods, like
the kind used for model airplanes and model sailboats. Common thicknesses are 1/8″ to
1/2″—perfect for most robot projects. Read up on wood robots in Chapter 7, “Working
with Wood.”
• Plastic. Plastic boasts high strength, but is easier to work with than metal. You can cut it,
shape it, drill it, even glue it, with common, everyday tools. My favorite is PCV expanded
plastic. These sheets are known by various trade names such as Sintra, and they are avail-
able at industrial plastics supply outlets. Cheap and easy to work with. See Chapter 9,
“Working with Plastic,” for more details.
• Foamboard. Art supply stores stock what’s known as foamboard (or Foam Core), a special
construction material typically used for building models. It’s really a sandwich of paper or

Figure 2-9 The misguided Rotwang,
and his robot, from the 1927 movie
classic Metropolis. This is the shape of the
robot before it’s transformed to look like a
woman, a teacher leading a peaceful
worker’s rebellion.

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