Walking Machines

Abstract

There are provided systems and methods of optimizing walking machines. The system including a memory storing a software application and a processor configured to execute the software application to receive a character from a user, the character having walking mechanisms, determine optimal design parameters for the character based on the walking mechanisms, and alter the walking mechanisms of the character based on the optimal design parameters to generate altered walking mechanisms, wherein the optimal design parameters are for use by the character to walk using the altered walking mechanisms. Generating the altered walking mechanisms may include at least one of changing locations for joints on the walking mechanisms, changing the dimensions of the walking mechanisms, and changing motion timings for the walking mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a memory storing a software application; and   a processor configured to execute the software application to:
 receive a character from a user, the character having walking mechanisms; 
 determine optimal design parameters for the character based on the walking mechanisms; and 
 alter the walking mechanisms of the character based on the optimal design parameters to generate altered walking mechanisms, wherein the optimal design parameters are for use by the character to walk using the altered walking mechanisms. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the optimal design parameters by:
 determining a plurality of different design parameters for the character; and   selecting the optimal design parameters from the plurality of different design parameters.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to select the optimal design parameters from the plurality of different design parameters by:
 simulating a walking motion of the character using each of the plurality of different design parameters;   measuring a quality for the walking motion of the character for each of the plurality of different design parameters; and   selecting the optimal design parameters based on the quality of the walking motion of the character for each of the plurality of different design parameters.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking mechanisms include joints and the optimal design parameters include locations for the joints on the character, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes placing the altered walking mechanisms on the character using the locations for the joints. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking mechanisms include first dimensions and the optimal design parameters include second dimensions for the walking mechanisms, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes changing the first dimensions of the walking mechanisms to the second dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimal design parameters include a timing for moving each of the walking mechanisms, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes configuring the walking mechanisms using the timing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein to receive the character from the user, the processor is configured to:
 display a user interface including a plurality of walking mechanisms to the user, wherein the user uses the user interface to select the walking mechanisms from the plurality of walking mechanisms and place the walking mechanisms on the character.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate assembly instructions for building the character using the altered walking mechanisms. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to output illustrations and assembly plans corresponding to the assembly instructions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a plurality of different design parameters using a Stochastic approach. 
     
     
         11 . A method for optimizing walking mechanisms for a character, the method comprising:
 receiving the character from a user, the character having the walking mechanisms;   determining optimal design parameters for the character based on the walking mechanisms; and   altering the walking mechanisms of the character based on the optimal design parameters to generate altered walking mechanisms, wherein the optimal design parameters are for use by the character to walk using the altered walking mechanisms.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a plurality of different design parameters for the character; and   selecting the optimal design parameters from the plurality of different design parameters.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein to select the optimal design parameters from the plurality of different design parameters, the method comprises:
 simulating a walking motion of the character using each of the plurality of different design parameters;   measuring a quality for the walking motion of the character for each of the plurality of different design parameters; and   
       selecting the optimal design parameters based on the quality of the walking motion of the character for each of the plurality of different design parameters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the walking mechanisms include joints and the optimal design parameters include locations for the joints on the character, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes placing the altered walking mechanisms on the character using the locations for the joints. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the walking mechanisms include first dimensions and the optimal design parameters include second dimensions for the walking mechanisms, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes changing the first dimensions of the walking mechanisms to the second dimensions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the optimal design parameters include a timing for moving each of the walking mechanisms, and wherein generating the altered walking mechanisms includes configuring the walking mechanisms using the timing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein to receive the character from the user, the method comprises:
 displaying a user interface including a plurality of walking mechanisms to the user, wherein the user uses the user interface to select the walking mechanisms from the plurality of walking mechanisms and place the walking mechanisms on the character.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprises:
 generating assembly instructions for building the character using the altered walking mechanisms.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
 outputting illustrations and assembly plans corresponding to the assembly instructions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising:
 determining a plurality of different design parameters using a Stochastic approach.