aeh5040

Actually, maybe I was wrong. (This seems to be an unusual thing to read in this thread!) I was looking at the 12t half bevel that is visible under the main body, but probably that's for steering.

It doesn't seem to have been mentioned yet, but it looks as though there is some kind of fake engine, under an opening hood.

Definitely looks that way. Quite a surprise that they would produce a new mold for this, but it makes a lot of sense.

Absolutely. And also non-white folks. Took a long time to get there, but glad they have!

Also a few parts new (or rare) in green. Hardly a showstopper, I know, but I like green!

This looks fantastic to me. I like the exposed gears etc. I never thought they would release a set like this. Hopefully they will sell a lot at museums etc. besides the usual channels. Then perhaps we can hope to see more "pure mechanism" type sets.

I think this space sub-theme is a very positive development. It's very good to see something so different in technic. The sets seem very well thought out - hopefully they will sell well. I never thought we would see something like the Orrery as an official set. It looks fantastic. Hopefully they will sell lots and science museums and such, besides the usual channels. Then perhaps we can hope for more similar things.

Despite what some have said, this is all very much possible. I would actually suggest starting with the arm mechanism. That should be much much easier - there is plenty of space for motors, and they can be static. The experience of doing that will help prepare you for the harder challenge of the wheels. The wheels are harder because of the articulation. The simplest option is hub-mounted motors on the two middle wheels.

Start by deciding which functions you want to motorize, perhaps?

They have a reputation for failing. Not sure whether it would be wise in something running continuously. I would use an M motor at low power. You might also consider a second gear driving on the other side.

This is a great build, congratulations! Very nice use of sliding levers for the gear box. The gearing actually looks remarkably neat and straightforward considering what it is doing! Regarding originality, in my view there is nothing remotely wrong with incorporating ideas from elsewhere.

I suspect TLG have serious potential problems looming. Part of what made them a special company was being way ahead of their competitors, so they could pursue a genuine vision without being slaves to market forces. Now everything is different. They are perpetually fighting competitors from every angle. At the same time they have become a behemoth that struggles to adapt quickly. It's not an encouraging combination.

I would be interested if someone has found a good affordable substitute for technic cord. The ones I have tried are not quite as good as the real thing.

I wonder if a large cylinder might work better for the hub-as-weight. The small ones tend to stick easily - i.e. the friction is large compared with the force they produce. FWIW I used a spring + cylinder+ PF switch setup (not visible in the video unfortunately) here for the opposite reason: it was important that the mechanical system did not start until the pneumatic system was up to pressure.

That's a strange part! Any ideas for functional (as opposed to aesthetic) applications?

I see, I think. But I'm really not sure whether locking the clutches will help. If a LA gets driven past its endpoint then something has gone very wrong already. Better to aim to keep them well within their range.

You can also just measure this directly without programming, so again I'm not sure what the purpose would be.

I'm a bit confused why you would want to do that. The "clutch" only slips if you try to drive the actuator beyond its end stops (I believe). If you are doing that then without the clutch you will just stall the motor or break something.

I'm sure considerations like this are relevant to TLG's strategy. If it was 50% bigger, many parents who could afford it would baulk at the size.

Just wait a few months until the parts are readily available and there are fan-designed instructions!

It's interesting how these two frame types are used. They seem to be assembled with a 1-stud offset into individual box sections, which are then joined together using axles. I guess that is perhaps reflective of the real thing? Of course the boom would be much stiffer if they were offset by more like half their length.

So 4 functions meaning 2 directions for each of the claw and the dumper? Or do you have more functions in mind? I'm also curious how will picking up an item will work while driving along. Will it just push the item along for a bit until the claw starts to lift?

Interesting! I imagine alignment with the racks will be tricky. Perhaps it needs some sort of horizontal guides.

Nice. Can we see some close up photos?

+1 for Prusa. I have a MINI and love it. And they come across as a really thoughtful company that cares about its customers (including novices).