Robots designed and built by David Buckley

Key

Robots

Teal - HM

From a design by Peter Holland, published in the 'Model Maker' June 1955.
Probably the first design for a walking vehicle to be published in Britain as a construction project.
Built October 1976.
Size - 12" * 5" * 8".

Icarus - HM

Based on a design by A B Orr, Newnes Practical Mechanics July 1962.
Following Grey Walters machines it is probably the first published design for a phototropic vehicle.
Built April 1990.
Won a Gold medal at the Robot Olympics, Glasgow 1990.
Size - 6" * 4' * 6 1/2".

Fred - HM

Based on a design by Peter Holland, Radio Control Models & Electronics, December 1964.
Probably the first published design for a photo- tropic vehicle which didn't follow Grey Walters design of a scanning turret coupled to the front wheel. Instead Fred's turret independently rotates and a sensor integrates the light level over the Port and Starboard sectors and directs the steering to head to the brightest sector.
Built May 1990.
Size - 5 1/2" * 4" * 4 1/2".

Hexy - HM

Based on a design by G Drapper, Radio Control Models & Electronics, March 1965.
Probably the first design for a phototropic vehicle which didn't use a scanning turret.
Built May 1990.
Size - 6" * 6" * 3 1/2".

WiLF - HM

Based on a design published in Everyday Electronics, June 1975.
Probably the first British published design for a Line Following vehicle.
Built October 1991.
Size - 5" * 4 1/2" * 3".

Timbug-II - HM

Based on a design published in Elektor, June 1980.
Maybe the first published design for a robot vehicle using ultrasonics for obstacle detection. Uses an ultra-sonic beam to detect obstacles, avoidance is by random back-off and turn behaviour.
Built March 1992.
Size - 5" * 3 1/2" * 3".

MM1 - Ret

A micromouse, using IR emitter/receivers to detect the walls of the maze and wire bump sensors in case it doesn't.
MM1 was too small for me to fit a controller and was abandoned in favour of Quester.
Built October 1980
Size - 5" x 4" x 3".

Quester - Ret

A micromouse, which uses vision to detect the walls of the maze, segmented bump sensors in case it doesn't, and a layered behaviour control program.
Finalist in the Robotics Age "Home Robot Photo Contest". Article in Robotics Age Jan/Feb 1982.
Photograph of Quester used to illustrate an article on mobile robots, p641, The Home Computer Advanced Course #33, 1984.
Photograph - Scale Models International, April 1988, p207.
Built June 1981 -.
Size - 8" * 5 1/2" * 7 1/2".

M²3 - Ret

Computer controlled Turtle using an Infra Red communications link.
Won a Bronze medal at the 1988 International Model Engineer Exhibition, London.
Photograph - Scale Models International, April 1988, p207.
Built May 1982.
Size - 10" * 10" * 5".

Zeaker - HM - P

Black vehicle, the prototype Zeaker.
A computer controlled micro robot vehicle attached by an umbilical to its control station and host computer.
Built November 1982.
Size - 5 1/2" * 5" * 2 1/2".

Zeaker - HM

White vehicle, the production prototype Zeaker.
A computer controlled micro robot vehicle attached by an umbilical to its control station and host computer.
Published as a construction project in Practical Electronics May & June 1983 and sold by Colne Robotics.
Zeaker was the first British computer controlled micro robot vehicle to have comprehensive segmented bump sensors.
Illustrations of Zeaker used in The Usborne Practical Micro Book, p49, p75, 1985.
Highly Commended at the 1988 Model Engineer Exhibition.
Photograph - Scale Models International, April 1988, p207.
Built February 1983.
Size - 5 1/2" * 5" * 2 1/2".

Prowler - HM

The first design published in Britain for an expandable micro robot vehicle.
Controlled over an umbilical from an host computer.
Published in Sinclair Projects Aug. and Dec. 1983.
Built Summer 1983.
Size - 9" * 4 1/2" * 3".

Modular-I - Ret

Designed and fitted out by D L Buckley, chassis built by David Joseph.
A self contained modular robot vehicle with obstacle sensors and obstacle avoiding software.
Built Autumn 1983.
Size - 13" * 10 1/2" * 6"

Zeaker 2 - D

Expandable Turtle controlled over an umbilical from an host computer, driven by stepper motors and capable of precise movements.
Design started Q1 1984.
Size - 7" * 6" * 4".

DoubleVision - HM

A simple stereo scanning camera for a computer.
Published in Practical Robotics, July 1984.
Built June 1984.
Size 4" * 4" * 4"

Zero 2 - HM

Expandable Turtle controlled over an umbilical from an host computer, driven by stepper motors and capable of precise movements, is able to follow lines using the inbuilt line following sensors.
Design started July 1984.
Size - 7" * 6" * 4".

First-Step - D

Four Legged Walking Robot, uses 3-D pantograph arrangement to produce a gravitationally decoupled leg mechanism similar to that used by Shigeo Hirose, A Study of Design and Control of a Quadruped Walking Vehicle, The International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol 3, No. 2, 1984.
Won a Silver medal at the 1988 International Model Engineer Exhibition, London.
Photograph - Scale Models International, April 1988, p207.
Design and building started September 1987.
Size - body about 6" * 6" * 6", legs extend to about 15" * 15".

Shadow Walker - HM Ret

A two legged human sized pneumatic powered walking robot.
Design and building started 1988.
Now in the Permanent Collection of the Science Museum, London.
Size - 5ft 6inches high, weight about 80lb

Omnivore - HM

Designed by Jonathan Connell and published in Omni October 1988.
A self contained robot vehicle with an electronic neural control circuit with layered behaviours.
Built as published May 1994.
Size - 9" * 5" * 4"

Liberator - T

A self contained mobile robot, will be equipped with a vision system and arm and gripper.
Sometimes controlled over an umbilical from an host computer.
Triangle Digital Services 2020 Forth computer
Built 1991
Size - about 20" * 15" * 5ft high

Elizabeth - T

Imperial-Lady class robot #1
A self contained mobile robot able to navigate in an unstructured environment and coexist with human and other reasonably sized animal life.
Multiple sensors and multiple sensor systems.
Data fusion via behavioural fusion control strategies.
Triangle Digital Services 2020 Forth computer
Design and building started September 1993.
Size - about 26" * 18" * 36".

Victoria - T

Imperial-Lady class robot #2
A self contained mobile robot able to navigate in an unstructured environment and coexist with human and other reasonably sized animal life.
Data fusion via behavioural fusion control strategies.
Triangle Digital Services 2020 Forth computer
Design and building started September 1993.
Size - about 26" * 18" * 36".

Tiny Tim - Ret

A sub miniature self contained robot vehicle with onboard computer programmed in a high level language, capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles. Uses a five layer behavioural control program.
Built May 1994.
Size - 1.5" * 1.9" * 1.3".
(yes thats 3.8cm * 4.8cm * 3.3cm)

Simplhex - Ret

A self contained six legged walking vehicle using 12 model-control servos, it has an onboard control computer enabling it to walk whilst avoiding obstacles.
i. Umbilical controlled from an Acorn Achimedes A3000
ii. made self contained using a Basic Stamp BS1
iii. Stamp code compiled into a PIC16f84
Voted the best hexapod at the Robot Olympics in 1996
Design and building started September 1994.
Size - 13" * 8" * 6" high

Amater - D

Micromouse - Intel AH-52 Basic, stepper motors.

Jack-0 - D

A six legged self contained walking robot vehicle able to cope with unstructured terrain, to be equipped a vision system for terrain mapping and object location, and a limb and gripper for object retrieval.
Size - about 40cm * 30cm * 30cm

Mr Big - C

A micro miniature self contained robot vehicle with onboard computer programmed in a high level language, capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles. Uses a layered behavioural control program.
Design started March 1995.
Size - 1" cube.
(yes thats a 2.5cm cube)

Clarissa May - Ret

Groundhog class Mars tug, rough terain vehicle with onboard computer programmed in a high level language, capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles. Uses a layered behavioural control program with intrinsic sensor fusion.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS1.
Built May 1995.
Size - 6.5" x 6.5" x2.75" high

Snowdrop - Ret

Groundhog class Mars tug, rough terain vehicle with onboard computer programmed in a high level language, capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles. Uses a layered behavioural control program with intrinsic sensor fusion.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS1.
Built May 1995.
Size - 6.5" x 6.5" x2.75" high

Gargantua - X

A micro miniature self contained robot vehicle with onboard computer programmed in a high level language, capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles.
Used a cut up Basic Stamp BS1 SIL version.
Built August 1996.

Ranger Scout - X

A 2 inch cube wheeled robot
Used a Basic Stamp BS1.
Built November 1997.

The Imperial Drone Red - Nevik

A minimal wheeled robot built from coloured cardboard using hot-melt glue.
Capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS1.
Built November 1997.

The Imperial Drone Green - Gotan - T

A minimal wheeled robot built from coloured cardboard using hot-melt glue.
Capable of seeking light whilst avoiding obstacles.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS1.
Built November 1997.

Hugo

Cardboard animatronic head designed to be built by students in a workshop on animatronics
which I gave to the Props department at the Royal National Theatre, London.
Prototype for Alex.
Built April 1998.

BigFoot - HM

A two servo biped walker.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS1.
sold under license by Milford Instruments.
Size - 10" high.
Built October 1998.

Alex

An animatronic head.
sold under license by Milford Instruments.
Built October 1998.

TecArm v0 - P

A robot arm.
Built 1999.

TecArms 5 & 6

Robot arms.
sold under license by Milford Instruments.
Built 1999.

TecFoot

2 foot high autonomous, 5 servo, biped robot.
Uses a Basic Stamp BS2
sold under license by Milford Instruments.
Built July 2000.

Bob Hope Animatronic Golfer - A

demonstration item for Tile 2000, Bob Hope playing golf - holed 15 foot putts with ease.
Part of my display of seven animatronic figures,

Bob Hope - Golfer - moving head, and upper body and arms

Bill Cosby - watching the ball - moving head

Julia Roberts - watching the ball - moving head

unnamed - watching the ball - moving head

Gandi - watching the ball - moving head

Dr Lane - watching the ball - moving head

Caddy - lifting the flag out of the hole and watching Hope and the ball, - Multi-direction head and moving arm.
All the watchers looked back and forth at each other until Hope was ready to putt, then they looked at him and followed the ball to the hole.
Built 2000.

Hextor

10 processor autonomous hexapod robot.
sold under license by Milford Instruments.
Built February 2001.

Animatronic head - A

Animatronic head of a Bishop,
Caernarvon, North Wales.
Built April 2001.

Animatronic Celt - A

Silicone skinned talking and gesturing figure;
Tales of Tameside, Setantii Visitor Centre, Ashton-under-Lyne.
Built January 2002.

TecRover - P

Mobile robot with arm and gripper
A mobile base for the TecArm and TecGrip, not put into production.
Built May 2002.

Cycler

Mobile Presentation Robot operated in schools by Waste Watch
Built May 2002.

Junior - X

3 servo biped walking robot
Built June 2002.

Tom - D

3 servo biped walking robot
Built July 2002.

Pop - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Built July 2002.

Mom - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Built August 2002.

Joe - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Built November 2002.

Loki - D

4 servo biped walking robot
Built November 2002.

Freya - D

4 servo biped walking robot
Built November 2002.

Thor - D

4 servo biped walking robot
Designed Jnuary 2003, Built July 2011.

Animatronic Crofter - A

Silicone skinned talking and gesturing figure;
Hootananny Heritage Centre, Inverness
Built May 2003.

Animatronic Policeman - A

Silicone skinned talking figure.
The Police Federation.
Built August 2003.

Kasper - D

3 servo biped walking robot
Built November 2003.

Animatronic Squaddy - A

Soldier coming to attention.
REME museum.
Built March 2004.

Animatronic Sergeant - A

figure with animatronic head and 'writing' hand.
REME museum.
Built March 2004.

Animatronic Butler - A

Silicone skin talking and writing Butler,
Spirit of Salzburg, Salzburg.
Built March 2004.

Animatronic Dr Miracle - A

Silicone skin talking and gesturing figure,
Spirit of Salzburg, Salzburg.
Built March 2004.

Sir William Stanier - A

seated figure with animatronic head.
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.
Built July 2004.

Robotic Leg - A

Robotic human sized leg for research into powered prosthetics
Shadow Robot Co. for North Carolina A & T University.
Built 2005.

Animatronic head - A

animatronic head for a Swedish museum.
Built January 2006.

Animatronic head - A

Animatronic head of Colonel Stephens, locomotive designer,
Kent & East Sussex Railway Museum
Built 2007.

Facially expressive Animatronic head - A

Nottingham Trent University.
Built Autumn 2008.

Animatronic Chirotherium dinosaur - A

Animatronic Dinosaur with moving eyes, for Newcastle Natural History Museum.
Built Winter 2008.

Animatronic Hypsilophodon dinosaur - A

Animatronic Dinosaur with moving eyes, for Newcastle Natural History Museum.
Built Winter 2008.

Animatronic Pholiderpeton dinosaur - A

Animatronic Dinosaur with moving head, for Newcastle Natural History Museum.
Built Winter 2008.

Animatronic note-taker - A

figure with animatronic head and 'writing' hand.
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
Built May 2009.

Strider1 - X

large 2 servo biped walking robot
Built April 2009.

Jid - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Built December 2009.

Iva - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Built December 2009.

Jet - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Designed December 2009.

Animatronic Nutcracker doll - A

Designed August 2011.

Bambino - D

2 servo biped walking robot
PicAxe controller Designed August 2011.

Bambino - D

2 servo biped walking robot
Arduino controller Designed August 2013/14.

Baldur - D

4 servo biped walking robot
Built September 2014.

Imp - D

4 servo biped walking robot
Built October 2014.

Nova-Cybot I,II,III - D

small wheeled robots
Built May 2016.

Shadow Leg Mk2 - D

Development of Shadow Leg prototype
August 2016-.

Ullr -D

4 servo biped walking robot
Built October 2019.

Ajax -D

16 servo biped walking robot based on a Sainsmart Humanoid kit
Conversion started September 2022.

Libby -D

rebuild of Liberator #24 started March 2023

 
Previously sold through Milford Instruments