From Toys to Giant Walking Machines: A Journey in Engineering

The speaker shares their journey from a childhood fascination with machines, inspired by Star Wars, to a career in model making and engineering. They discuss leaving university for practical learning, building hexapods, and the challenges of creating the Mantis machine. The narrative culminates in their work on Star Wars Episode 7, highlighting the full-circle moment of contributing to a franchise that initially sparked their interest in walking machines.

What inspired the speaker's fascination with walking machines?

• A television advert

• A childhood toy

• A scene from a Star Wars film

• A university project

What did the speaker do after realizing they were not academically inclined?

• Joined a different course

• Continued with university

• Started a new hobby

• Took a job as a model maker

What was the purpose of building the two-ton machine?

• To create a new toy

• To compete in a robotics competition

• To explore commercial possibilities and creative engineering

• To win an engineering award

What was a major challenge faced during the Mantis project?

• Lack of funding

• Complexity of hydraulics

• Team disagreements

• Time constraints

What significant achievement did the speaker accomplish related to Star Wars?

• Worked on Star Wars Episode 7 and won an award

• Designed a new Star Wars character

• Directed a Star Wars film

• Created a Star Wars-themed toy