Now this is a guy with too much time on his hands (building giant robot at home)

Ramblings' Journal ^ | 12.22.04 | Michael King

[mhking]

Carlos Owens is building an 18-foot tall mech (or battle robot) in his back yard.

Owens, a 26 year-old steel worker in Anchorage, AK, plans on finishing it next summer.

"This is a concept that's been around for a long time," Owens said in a telephone interview. "But I'm not going to wait for the other guy to come out and make it when I've got the capability to do it myself."

He's always had an eye for huge projects, and an inventor's itch. He built a 35-foot wooden version of his mecha when he was 19, he said, as a sculpture project because he couldn't afford the materials to make it function. The latest project, drawing on his experience in the Army and as a steelworker, is more ambitious.

"I've always been building things," he said. "But with the mecha I wanted to do something different than what everyone else was doing. It's hard to invent something new."

When completed, the idea is for the pilot to be able to strap himself into a central, padded compartment, and then control the mecha with the motions of his own body. When the pilot walks, the mecha walks. Raise an arm and open a hand, and the mecha does the same, with 46 possible movements planned.

Owens suggests on his own website, Neogentronix.com, that one day mechs like this would be able to help put our wildfires or go into military combat.

Sounds like he's watched one too many episodes of Gundam Wing or someother Anime on Adult Swim.

[TalonDJ]

Hmmm, the only thing better than having a giant robot so you can pick up chicks would be having chicks with giant robots.

[JenB]

But most chicks who use giant robots are obnoxious or weird, so I don't know if I want to be one. The role of "schoolgirl sidekick/love interest for boy with giant robot" seems much better.

[RosieCotton]

And some chicks with giant robots are guys...

Or not...

[JenB]

"Dilandu is my sister!"

[Future Snake Eater]

Yes, after 6 years in the Army infantry, and I've never been around an M16/M4/M240/M60/etc. after putting a whole lotta rounds through it...jeez, folks, I'm talking about the GAME of Mechwarrior! As in, projectile weapons are a lot cooler than SR/MR/LR lasers and plasma weapons? Not exactly realistic, but still very fun, and completely different from our current military. Thank you.

[ASA Vet]

Ha ha,,, got ya going. I already knew your military background.
I believe I thanked you when you first came on board FR.
Let me repeat that today.

Thank you for your service, Sir!