[trevor1]

How can I produce compliant(fast but smooth and fluid movements) animatronic movements in my animatronic figure's arm movements? Im using VSA as the programming software, if that helps.

 

[bfjou812]

I've used TrackSkull from Monkey Basic, http://www.monkeybasic.com/Products/TrackSkull/features-requirements.html , with a lot of success.
I used thejoystick option and really liked it. There is a learning curve but it is fairly simple. Nelson, the owner, is a great guy also, he will help with any question or problem you have.

 

[Mr_Chicken]

I've done one channel at a time in VSA with a joystick with good results as well. To my knowledge, there isn't really an "on switch" for compliance available on a haunter's budget. You just have to ease in and out of the movements manually, which is basically what it means, to my understanding. Rather than going straight from point A to point B, you program it to start slow, speed up, and slow down again at the end of the move to move more organically.

 

[soundmankkc]

Compliance also allows the small over travel and return to the desired position much like the human body. This acts as a shock absorber. I have also scoured the web for information on limb construction with compliance built in, to no avail.

 

[craigsrobotics]

You'll need proportional air valves and an analog controller...complex and very expensive to implement...you won't be able to achieve true compliance from servos... this technology is highly controlled and software driven. Check out Enfield's website www.enfield.com, and Clippards EPV series valves...I also found this little device is pretty successful to replace an actual proportional air valve. Although you still need some programming to control the varying voltages for pneumatic speed... http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G19812 Unfortunately, you'll need one for each pneumatic cylinder....

 

[dadgonemad]

Due to the compressible nature of air in pneumatics, I don't think true compliance can be achieved with air cylinders. You'd have to go hydraulic.

 

[craigsrobotics]

Hmm, I think you might be correct there, dadg..... I know Disney has achieved true compliance in some of their figures they've replaced the hydraulic and pneumatic actuators with electric linear actuators... and I've seen some of their deskinned figs up close...come to think about it, the large movements (arms, torso) are hydraulic, while the smaller actuations such as fingers, eyes, mouth, are pneumatic...