Get your own Mech on E-Bay

[Gizmo]

It would seem that a fellow named Carlos Ownes has designed and built his own, real live, 18-foot tall flame throwing Mech. It's just a prototype, and so is not fully functional, but it is capable of walking a short distance and is powered by a gasoline engine. Now he's selling it on E-Bay in an effort to raise capital to build another (fully functional) Mech.
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/20...ck_150x189.jpg
Image courtesy of CNet News. Click for the full story.

[Got EpOx]

Cool looking Mech.

[fearless joe]

outstanding work, the mech and you finding it A+++ from me

[homey_v]

little off topic. You guys know there is a working, walking mech in japan right? its produced and sold to people.

[fearless joe]

really, is there a site?

[Gizmo]

I assume you are talking about this unit?

Not to take away from what Nasaaki Nagumo has done (it is truly an impressive feat, being designed and built on his own, and being arguably more complex), but that is a piloted mech. You sit in a chair and operate switches and joysticks to control it. The unit built by Mr. Owens is an exoskeleton, which makes it a different critter AIUI. It works by sensing the force the user applies in a particular fashion and moves in response. You move your arm, it moves its arm, that kind of thing.

In any case, the Japanese mech costs something on the order of $325,000 to purchase, making it MUCH more expensive.

[calgar]

heh, if i had the money i would probabally buy the damn thing...

hmm, i wonder if you would need a driving lisance?

[devilmyarse]

Well you wouldn't take somthing like that on a public road will you? You don't need a driving license to drive a car on a private road.

You would probably need to be taught how to work the thing though!