STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
All head, body, tail and limb elements are rigid truss structures made from square and rectangular steel tubing.

FIGURE 4a. Robosaurus Internal Structural Details
Typical diagonally braced, bridgelike truss structures were used on all major components. All members were sized to provide a safety factor of at least 4 under worst case loading conditions. Note author on tail - test operating machine directly using manual valves (prior to installation of the fly-by-wire control system for pilots in the head).

FIGURE 4b. First Claw Test
Due to high concentrated loads, the claws and teeth are constructed from plate steel, rather than from a truss covered by decorative non-structural fascia skin. The first test was conducted on August 8, 1988 by suspending the claw from its wrist on a fork lift. At 3,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure the tip of each claw can apply 12,000 pounds of concentrated crushing force.

FIGURE 4c. Results of First Claw Test
Bye, Bye, Herbie! Destructive capability was more than adequately demonstrated! The 12,000 lb. crushing force design value was scientifically selected and is based on the 12,000 lb. weight of the typical monster truck. Observations of the damage (trucks landing on junk car roofs) caused by the large footprint area monster truck tires led us to believe that the same force applied on a much smaller area should produce impressive results.

 

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