Automatron Online Help Index

Legs Parameters
Here we set some very important parameters for the PWS. Depending on the animation procedure chosen in the Available Animation window, some of these parameters will effect your animation queue event.

Scale – this parameter will affect the length of the leg stride that the Bot takes when animating. A scale value of 100 will give the Bot a comfortable long stride when walking, while a value of 0 will have the Bot not moving forward at all. When running the Scale value should be set to 200 – 300 to give a good result. Note*** StepM and RunM animation procedures will use the scale value to adjust other leg values such as the foot lifting and heel rolling, while a Walkatron Loop only uses Scale to determine the length of the walking stride.

Angle – use angle to turn the Bot as it walks or runs. An angle of 45 will turn the Bot 45 degrees to the right for every foot step taken.

Speed – this is equal to the amount of frames the Bot will take to complete one footstep. When using StepM or RunM, a single queue event at Speed 20 will create animation keys over 20 frames, while a Walkatron Loop will create keyframes over 40 frames as it does both the right and left foot together in one event. A value of 20 will be a good starting point for most work done in the PWS.

Hipback – this is used by StepM and RunM to adjust the forward position of the hips. A negative value pushes the hips forward while a positive value pulls the hips back. A value of –20 is good the default Bot, while a value of +50 is good if “Use Z Gravity” is unchecked.

Weight – this is used by StepM and RunM to give a bounce to the hips as the Bot walks and runs. A value of 0 will have no effect, while a value of 100 has the Bot dipping his hips down as he takes each step.

KneeBend –this is used by StepM and RunM to detect how straight the legs may get during a walk. A value of 0 will allow the leg to become completely straight by letting the Hips distance to the ankle equal the length of the leg system. While an increasing value will keep the Hips closer to the ankles thus keeping the legs from becoming too straight. This is important in an IK system because as the legs bend closer to a straight IK solution, they tend to snap and give a jerky appearance.

Sway - is used by StepM and RunM to move and rotate the Hips and Spine back and forth.

Drunk - is used by StepM and RunM to add a randomness to the feet positions as they land on the ground.

Spread – At value 0 the feet will appear to walk a tight rope. At value 100 the Feet will land directly underneath the hip joints. Larger values will have the feet landing further out from the center of the body.

FootLift - is used by StepM and RunM to lift the legs higher off the ground as they walk.

Frames - does nothing for now.