Six-Legged Motorized LEGO Technic Walker Could Become a Real LEGO Ideas Set

Photo credit: Alexis_MOCs_FR
A six-legged, motorized LEGO Technic walker has recently appeared on LEGO Ideas, and its surprisingly smooth gait is quite impressive given that it is made entirely of bricks and gears. This motorized hexapod, created by French designer Alexis_MOCs_FR, is a livable rover intended for planetary exploration, complete with a crew cabin, solar panels, and even a satellite dish.

It utilizes two L motors to move itself about, and that’s all it requires because they’re connected to a gear system that drives all six legs without requiring each one to be operated separately. The most smart feature, however, is how it adjusts the speed of each leg on the fly. When a foot reaches the ground and begins to bear weight, it immediately slows down to keep the entire object moving at a consistent, even rate. When the leg lifts, speed returns and propels the limb forward in a swift, smooth motion through a wide arc of about 60, 70 degrees. That results in a seamless transfer of weight from one pair of legs to the next, much like a real organism would move rather than your typical LEGO walker, which is choppy and stiff.

It’s worth mentioning that each leg features a sliding element at the bottom. As the top bit spins and tilts, the slider adjusts properly to keep the foot flat on the ground. There are no cumbersome mechanisms or modifications required, so everything happens entirely through geometry. What truly seals the deal is the addition of bespoke shock absorbers on each foot, which reduce the sting of landings on uneven ground, keep everything quiet and stable, and allow the walker to step over obstacles such as crumpled cloth or rough textures without losing balance.

One of the nicest aspects of this design is that you can see all of the gears and connections in action as it moves, similar to having a transparent mechanical watch. The color scheme also works nicely, with white body panels against a black structure, blue solar panels, and an elevated cockpit that can easily accommodate two astronaut minifigs. The entire structure is extremely lightweight while still strong enough to withstand the forces of high-speed movement without collapsing.

It’s currently waiting on LEGO Ideas, garnering support for the 10,000 votes required to advance to formal review. If you were one of those individuals who used to play around with Mindstorms trying to get movement and control to work, this project is a good reminder that with pure mechanical engineering, you can still create something fairly impressive out of a pile of Technic bricks.
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