In a nutshell: One incredibly dedicated Star Wars fan has made a childhood dream come true – at least for those kids who inexplicably rooted for the Empire. YouTuber James Bruton has spent months constructing a miniature replica of the iconic AT-AT walker from The Empire Strikes Back. And it’s not just a static model; it can actually carry a human rider.
The mini AT-AT stands taller than the average adult human and is built from a combination of 3D printed components and aluminum extrusion framing. Each of the walker’s four legs is equipped with a pair of brushed motors and gearboxes.
One of the biggest challenges while building the vehicle was ensuring the whole structure remained stable and rigid enough to support Bruton’s weight while in motion. His solution was to have the knees on each leg face outwards like a horse, which isn’t exactly canon. But the tweak makes a toppling incident less likely.
As for performing the duty it was built for, it definitely gets the job done, if a bit… leisurely. The top walking speed clocks in at an impressively glacial 0.037 mph. But that’s just about scale-appropriate for a massive walker designed to bomb Rebel bases, not chase after landspeeders. Moreover, somehow the snail’s pace just feels appropriate and authentic.
The relatively low power demands are another pleasant surprise, given all the motorized motion involved. Bruton was able to power them through an RJ-45 ethernet cable, which is typically used for networking equipment.
The finished product stands two meters (6.5 feet) tall. It may not sound like a lot, but it was still tall enough for Bruton to require what looks like a miniaturized elevator to get on top – a much more elegant solution than simply using a ladder to climb aboard. After all, can you imagine the mighty Empire’s finest officers undignifiedly scrambling up a ladder to board their fearsome war machines?
Piloting this beast, Bruton looks like a gleeful kid who just scored the toy of his dreams. “I can’t believe all these plastic gears have held up!” he exclaims while maneuvering the walker around a parking lot.
Looking ahead, Bruton plans potential upgrades like switching to a two-legged walking gait for more speed and overdriven motors. He even wishes to add weapons, though that’s probably a story for the next revision.
