Vol. 02: Made on Earth

Reports from the world of backyard technology, including a cockroach-controlled robot, high altitude glider, student-built cyclotron, Vee 9 solar vehicle, robotic CD burner, coffee mug ramjet, and more.

By Jason Kottke, Paul Spinrad, Bob Parks, Xeni Jardin

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Errata

MAKE reader Todd Johnson wrote:

"I received Make Volume 02 today to my delight.

"I found a problem with the article "Smashing Success" on page 17 however. The article states that "squarewave AC runs through the electromagnet..." Actually, the current in a cyclotron magnet is tightly regulated DC. The accelerating potential is provided by an RF amplifier that puts an alternating electric field on an internal D-shaped electrode. Magnetic fields produce an acceleration perpendicular to the motion of a charged particle, and can therefore not be used to change the energy (or speed) of these particles. An electric field is necessary."

Thanks Todd!

+ LINKS

Insect Inside

Garnet Herz's cockroach-controlled robot.

15-Mile-High Club

Art Vanden Berg's computer-controlled model glider has a good chance at pulling images from 89,000 feet.

Smashing Success

Thanks to Tim Koeth, building a cyclotron is now part of the curriculum at Rutgers University.

SunVee

Plans and parts lists are available online for building your own Vee 9 solar vehicle.

Batching It

Matthias Wandel's cd-burning robot.

AlternaJets

Larry Cottrill's coffee-mug ramjet.

Lego Type

Mark Simonson's description of the Lego mechanism he built to help digitize film fonts.

Eunicycle

A complete list of parts, the source code, and mechanical fabrication drawings of this one-wheeled motorized scooter are offered for free download.

Jukebox Hero

Patrick Webb's custom PC jukebox.

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