How to Build a Lego Mindstorms NXT Hexapod Robot?

This time (in my very first instructable ever) I'm going to show you how to build a hexapod robot using Lego Mindstorms NXT.

Enjoy and leave a COMMENT!

Step 1: What Do You Need

You need:
- Lego Mindstorms NXT kit
- some extra Lego gears
- some time and will
- a computer

Step 2: Building the Legs

In our case, leg mechanism is very simple. There are two motors powering the legs - one for each side of the robot. The motor drives the middle leg, which is than connected with the other two. When one leg (in the middle) is on the ground, the other two are up in the air.

To steer, we stop the motor from the one side, so that only one side of the robot is walking, causing the robot to turn. The robot walks in a tripod gait. Each gear lifts the legs up and down and at the same time forwards and backwards, causing the robot to walk.

There are no differences between the two leg mechanisms (apart that one is mirrored on the other).

Step 3: Creating the Body

We start by connecting the two leg mechanisms together as firmly as possible. You want it to be as robust as possible. Than you can attach the NXT brick and all the additional sensor and motors. I fitted another motor on the front (with a touch and ultra sonic sensor) to lift small objects and the sound and light sensors on the rear of the robot.

When everything is completed, you can add some decorations... bodywork?

Step 4: Programming

I used a default NXT programming language NXT-G. It's pretty simple and you don't need to write all those hundreds of code lines. Off course there are also some other programming languages you can use...
(Note: the picture is NOT from the program of my robot!)

Step 5: Other Good Stuff...

You could say, that this robot is recyclable, 'cuz you can take it apart and build a new one when you get bored with the current one. And they're lots of fun...