As promised, here is the interview with Carlos Owens, inventor and creator of the Neo Mecha, the world's first true mech exo. The following is the text of that interview.

The Lone Inventor: Where did you get your inspiration to create the Neo Mecha?
Carlos Owens: Well, as most have speculated, my inspiration comes from my childhood viewings of mech related movies, anime, toys, and video games, which I still play, mostly mech warrior, and Xeno Gears. My ideas have had my whole life to evolve from the fantasy world into the real world. Most people only dream of doing such a thing, I decided to stop dreaming and start doing.

The Lone Inventor: When did you decide that you would take on the project and why?
Carlos Owens: I began this project back in October of 2003. I decided to take this thing head on because I knew I was more than capable of achieving it. I belive that anyone can build just about anything provided they have the funds, willpower, proper research, and most of all, common sense.

The Lone Inventor: You obviously have a lot of skill in a wide variety of trades, what kind of background does one need to contemplate undertaking a project like this?
Carlos Owens: Mostly it is beneficial to do research before hand on related subject matter, no matter what it is you want to build, you should learn about previous attempts, and go your own route using safety, and common sense as your guides. Everything else will fall into place, and if its a prototype, there will of course be issues that come up, but every problem has a simple solution.

The Lone Inventor: What would you say is the current completed percentage of the project?
Carlos Owens: 98.5% give or take ;)

The Lone Inventor: How long do you estimate until your neighborhood in Alaska is rattled by the thunderous footsteps of the NMX04-1A
Carlos Owens: Hopefully by this weekend if all goes well!

The Lone Inventor: About how much do you have invested in the project at this point?
Carlos Owens: I have never veiwed this project as a financial setback, but more so as an investment into something I strongly belive in with potential in the real world. It has thus far run me $20,000.00 U.S. and worth every penny.

The Lone Inventor: Many inventors find it difficult to find private financing, how have you been able to do it?
Carlos Owens: I am single and have no children is the bulk of it! Also, I find that having the will to save money all these years has paid off.

The Lone Inventor: Are you interested in having new investors contact you about the NMX04-1A?
Carlos Owens: Of course! I think any inventive minded individual realizes the importance of having the financial backing to further their research.

The Lone Inventor:Have you, or will you file patents on the proprietary intellectual property that you have developed as a result of your construction efforts?
Carlos Owens: That process has already begun, and I will do so in the future as I build more of these giant mechanical monsters.

The Lone Inventor: Although obviously a different project, what do you make of the BLEEX in development by DARPA?
Carlos Owens: I belive that it is a good start, but they clearly have a long way to go. If the purpose is to carry a soldier and their gear to a designated point then why is there so much bulk required of the machine in the backpack area for functioning? Its completely self defeating.

Not only that but their 50 million dollar budget sickens me. I mean most of the people on your website who are inventors could likely create far superior technology if they had a budget like that, but we can't all be Uncle Sam's pet. there is a similar project which has been produced and is already going to market for significantly less than the bleex project, it is lighter, and looks much more feasible, and Didn't cost 50 million taxpayer dollars to produce here is the URL http://sanlab.kz.tsukuba.ac.jp/HAL/indexE.html

Compare for yourselves, and ask yourself, Why didn't this one cost 50 million dollars? It works,and its even going to market where anyone, not just military can buy it.

The Lone Inventor: Have you been approached by the US military or others interested in purchasing your technology?
Carlos Owens: No I have not, here is an article about my project with some comments made by DARPA as to why it hasn't been.

It seems that they would rather spend 50 million on a tiny bulky and cumbersome exoskeleton (BLEEX) which has already been surpassed by a non military prototype (HAL) rather than consider funding other options like Neo Mecha etc etc . There are many Inventors out there with really good ideas. Its a shame that they aren't also considered. It may of course have something to do with cost and budgeting. I mean for example I built this machine for $20,000.00. I consider rather quickly and efficiently. The annual budget for DARPA would not increase if they funded a project like mine because it would not cost 50 million to build one unit.

The Lone Inventor: How would you deal with that, if for instance the US military came in once the project is completed and said "You will now relinquish the mech to us"?
Carlos Owens: I would Probably disassemble it into tiny atom sized pieces and then tell them to come pick it up after they paid for it.

The Lone Inventor: Are you planning on licensing the technology to others, or is NEOGENTRONYX going to become known as the "GM" of mecha?
Carlos Owens: I already have plans for possible production and distribution of various types of mecha for different uses, pending funding of course. There will also be a kit mech available to the general public from Neogentronyx. No release date on that.

The Lone Inventor: Already your Mech has far surpassed the efforts of General Electric with their "Hardiman",does that give you a large sense of responsibility to bring this technology forward until completion?
Carlos Owens: Not really, I had the sense to complete it the very day I began this project, and I fully intend to see it through.

The Lone Inventor: How many hydraulic muscles does the NMX04-1A have?
Carlos Owens: 20 down from 23 because I have further simplified the design, and also that translated into 40 possible movements.

The Lone Inventor: Can you describe the power plant being used to power all those hydraulic muscles?
Carlos Owens: Its a simple 18hp Briggs and strat, nothing fancy, and it has already proven itself to be more than fully capable of moving the beast.

The Lone Inventor: You mention "myomere" on your site. What is it? Will it, or can it ever be developed and used in the Mecha industry?
Carlos Owens: Myomere is an artificial muscle, either polymer, or metallic in nature here are some links.

http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/muscle/papers/memo1330/memo1330.html

http://www.nitinol.com/3tech.htm

http://www.unm.edu/~amri/

Though not the greatest websites, they provide information on artificial muscle for use in the real world. I do not belive I will ever implement that technology in mecha because the strength of them will likely never surpass the raw power of a hydraulic system.

The Lone Inventor: Have you found the balancing mechanism to be a complicating problem?
Carlos Owens: No, balancing is merely a matter of shifting weight from one side to the next, his prototype could be better at it, but unfortunately, funding , or lack of, has an affect on everything.

The Lone Inventor: Can you describe the M.I.M.I.C. system in some detail?
Carlos Owens: basically M.I.M.I.C. (mech interface manual integration control) Allows the pilot to move freely and control the various movements of the mech without levers by making the same gestures he would as if walking, instead of trying to figure out which lever does what, because I don't care how good of an operator one might be, no one could perform the task of walking a mech if they had to do it by looking at a block of 20 hydraulic valves and levers.

The Lone Inventor: What have been some of your biggest obstacles thus far in the project?
Carlos Owens: Running out of money tends to top that list, and aside from there, there have been minor mechanical issues which pop up now and again, but so far they have all been solved with no problems.

The Lone Inventor: Well, this has got to be the coolest private project in the world being developed right now, I can still imagine that you are receiving some opposition to it. Have your family, or friends been supportive of your inventive efforts?
Carlos Owens: At first people were wondering what it was that I was trying to accomplish, but now that they can see it standing there bigger than life, that is no longer a question. My family, friends, and even neighbors are supportive of my project,a nd are all looking forward to seeing what it is capable of.

The Lone Inventor: Has that been a large factor in pursuit of your goals?
Carlos Owens: In a sense yes. Support doesn't always mean financial. My greatest support comes from people who simply say they believe in me.

The Lone Inventor: After the NMX04-1A is completed, and Mecha become a facet of reality for the world, what's next for you?
Carlos Owens: Not even the magic 8 ball can answer that one ;)

The Lone Inventor: Is there any advice you could give to other inventors out there who are currently struggling with their own projects?
Carlos Owens: Persistence pays off, If you quit something every time you run into a problem, you need to find a different hobby. For those of us out there who don't, I wish you the best in your struggles. We all know the statistics about inventions and whatnot actually making it to market, and they aren't good. I am hoping that once my project takes off I'll be able to help my fellow inventors as well as launch the worlds first mech tech company.

Well I sure want to thank Carlos for sharing his story about the world's first true Mech! Very generous of him to do so, and we all appreciate it.

More about Carlos and his Mech can be found at his site http://www.neogentronyx.com including his bio, more pictures and video as well.