All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) Action Toy
(2023)
Final walking prototype of AT-ST action toy. Video taken after 2 hours of display and demonstration at end-of-course presentation know as the Toy Fair
As apart of ME 444, also known by students as Toy Design, the final project of the class was to create an action toy that included a minimum of 2 motion features utilizing manufacturing methods learned in class such as additive manufacturing and laser cutting. A team consisting of three students and myself decided to make a bipedal walker based off of a vehicle from the Star Wars franchise called an AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport). The AT-ST had one motor that rotated a belt attached to the leg shaft, which is how each leg was able to complete its walking motion. At the end of the right leg was a ball joint connecting to the cockpit of the AT-ST, giving it a swivel motion similar to what appears in Star Wars media. The entire toy was modeled in Creo, including linkage animation and FEM, and was fabricated mainly using a 3D printed parts with the addition of laser cut acrylic foot pads.
Initial screen shots of CAD progress from the beginning of November (left) to the end of the month (right)
My main contribution to this project was modeling the cockpit of the AT-ST and understanding how to combine practicality of scale, space, and functionality while staying as accurate to the source material as possible. If this prototype was to move further into production, our team would want to reassess the weight distribution and materials used, as after a few hours of demonstration the walking became increasingly strained.
During the final presentation when all teams get to advertise their prototypes, also know as the Toy Fair by students and faculty, our toy received the “Best Marketing Potential” award. This prototype is still displayed to this day inside the Toy Museum, located in the atrium of the Mechanical Engineering Building.
Final “action shot” of AT-ST action toy