This paper discusses issues around the problem of design and building of a first prototype of walking robot by an inter-institutional research group (UFMG/UFOP/UNIVALE, Brazil). The present stage of project development is focused on the construction and control of the leg mechanism, and on the analysis of its workspace for the robot overall design. The main features of the leg mechanism control, including simulations and laboratory experiments, as well the analysis of the robot workspace to adjust the design and parameters of the prototype, and to define the gaits to be performed, are discussed in this paper.