About the Electric Giraffe

Basic Design:



Based on Tamiya's little model of a walking giraffe, the Electric Giraffe is
a life sized robotic giraffe that borrows this toy's walking mechanism. The
'Raffe actually walks, just like its small scaled design model, but towers
at 17 feet tall when its neck is raised. The main frame where people can
ride is 8 feet off the ground, providing an impressive viewpoint of the
surroundings. Though the beast appears to have wheeled feet, the giraffe
actually walks on these wheels.  The wheels are used to give it variable
traction control, and more importantly, allow it to be winched up onto its
trailer.  At 1700 pounds, the giraffe is a real handful during this
operation.



Power System:



The giraffe uses a small 12 horsepower engine burning Propane gas. Propane
is a lot safer than gasoline and burns much cleaner, which makes it ok to
operate in crowded and even indoor events. The engine has no direct
connection to the giraffe other than to spin generators that charge the main
system batteries. From there the batteries power a 3 horsepower electric
motor that only needs 1.5 horsepower to move the giraffe. Therefore the
machine uses a true hybrid fuel-engine-generator-electric motor design.



Drive Train:



The main electric motor has no speed control and spins only in one
direction.  The motor gives its power to a "Hydrostatic Transmission."  A
simple lever on this unit is moved forward or back to tell the giraffe which
way to walk, providing a continuously variable "analog" speed control. Thus,
the engine is not required for the giraffe to power up and start walking.
This nearly silent mode of operation for a robotic vehicle lends a unique
and wonderful aspect to its motion.  Giraffe are naturally silent animals
and this quiet mode of operation was part of the design specification from
the beginning.



Lighting and Sound:



Currently the giraffe has about 500 watts of on board audio power.  That is
slated to be expanded to at least 2000 watts in the future.  Also, the
lighting system at this time is rather basic.  Future revisions will see
computer controlled spots that pulse to the music, and many more lighting
and computer systems added.  The machine in this area will forever remain in
a state of modification, as the look and feel of the giraffe is to change
slightly from year to year.  This will give people something new to look for
at future appearances.



Inspiration and Initial Design:



Many people ask this question over and over. WHY? Well, for years I have
been coming to Burning Man, dressed up in my zebra costume.  Yes, a zebra
costume.  Anyway, I've wanted to build something that went along with that
decoration.  So I rode around on several art cars during 2002 and 2003.
What data I gathered suggested these parameters: It should be tall, because
the view one gets at BM from just being 8 feet up is amazing.  It should be
an animal, since I love animals and like the idea of an animal as a form of
decoration.  It should play music and be able to carry a small number of
people, probably no more than 4 to 6 max.



Almost immediately a giraffe came to mind. I had thought of making a zebra,
but, that would be redundant and on top of that, it had been done already.
So, the initial design saw the giraffe on a wheeled frame, driving around
much like a car. But I wanted the legs and neck to move as well, so I
started looking at motion systems for ideas. Initially, the thought of the
giraffe actually walking crossed my mind, but was quickly written off as
being impossible or at least, very difficult to try.  So the giraffe would
"walk" but, it would be faked motion, with the hooves barely touching the
ground.  It was to be very much like a real giraffe skeleton, that walked
and moved like a real one would.



Well, along comes this model from Tamiya. I spotted it while searching
information on the net about giraffes. The little thing uses this very
simple method of operating all 4 legs at the same time from a single geared
motor source. I took the thing to my friend Gary and showed it to him,
placing it on the table, and as it walked, I talked about how this motion
would look nice on the wheeled frame, imitating a real walking giraffe.
Well, Gary shot straight out of his chair and pointed at the thing, saying
here was all the design criteria I needed.  To borrow the mechanism of this
toy and build a full size walking machine!



I was stunned and at first rebelled against the idea, having invested 2
years in solid thought and design with the project, and had a very clear
idea of how it would look and operate.  But what I was also planning was
terribly complex and demanding.  It could take years to complete, and here I
was, in late 2004 wanting to build a machine for 2005 in august.  The
prospects were not looking good for this more artistic giraffe I was
planning.  But the more robotic and stiff looking machine was suddenly
looking very possible.  After about 4 hours of discussion, Gary and I came
to agree that this little model would provide the basis of what was going to
become the wildest thing I have ever built so far. And it would really walk!



From there I entered into a world of welding every weekend and spare hour
during the week for 10 solid months.  We got a 7 year rain cycle that came
through, my day job became an utter nightmare due to its own parameters, and
I passed through more misery and injuries than ever.  Needless to say, I was
having the time of my life, spending every dollar I earned on this project,
and loving it more and more as the days passed and the machine neared
completion. It seemed like everything fate could toss me to trip me up on
the project was happening, plus all sorts of help manifested itself at the
same time.  New friendships were created on many levels, and I remain deeply
pleased with what has arisen from a pile of steel so far.



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