Martin:: WIP Robot Concept

UPDATE :: Added new renders of Martin. A wallpaper of him can be found here.

What this is::

So I've been working on this guy for a little while. Remember the buddy bot? Yeah, scrapped him, but used pieces from him as concepts to build this guy. He's a lanky, minimalistic, bi-pedal robot. His head is comprised of a single sphere lens with two shield plates on top and bottom that can rotate to both convey expression, as well as protect the "eye". His head has two compartments on either side with panels that open up to reveal what ever I may put inside them (extra hands, storage space etc.).

I went with a human-like spine concept that I picked up from another artist around here. I loved the idea and thought id create my own version of it.

Here's the story behind him and what he'll be used for::

Martin is a robot that I am designing to be my actor in many movies where I will be experimenting with 3D motion tracking. He'll be the thing I digitally put into my movies and experiment with realism in placement and acting with live video. If I make him robust enough, he'll see many many uses, and I might even donate him to the internet for all to use.

Story idea::

Martin will be an old robot.. down on his luck. He'll be found on a populated street corner with a tiny cup, eagerly hoping for a coin donation from the many passer-bys. He's rusted, but will still have flecks of chrome on him, suggesting a time when he was clean and new. He will wander around his street corner, reflecting on life, as well as loitering around a park, examining things and pondering his current situation.

I want it to be a fairly emotional piece where you'll start to get attached to him. Its quite a feat for myself, and I'm eager to get him working!