Industrial robot arm catapults flaming bowling balls

Craft & Design Robotics Technology
Industrial robot arm catapults flaming bowling balls
ManaFireball.jpg
robotSolitaire.jpg

This is a publicity stunt for a company that makes energy drinks called “Mana” and “Health” packaged to look like WoW or other fantasy-video-game potions. What’s more, we have hit their video of the robot in action before. But I could not resist that fireball photo, and this link has some good technical info about interfacing with the robot, hacking the release mechanism, and framing that awesome night shot using a blinking LED “tracer” bowling ball. Just don’t forget to buy some Mana Energy Potion while you’re there!

10 thoughts on “Industrial robot arm catapults flaming bowling balls

  1. Nate says:

    Good pic…but I’m a little disappointed that the ball only went 50 feet*. Especially for someone hustling energy drinks.

    Let’s get some makerbuilt trebuchets and catapults hurling flaming stones, and show these robots who’s boss!

    *yes, I did the pixel measurement conversions; it really is about 50 feet.

  2. RichT says:

    I don’t care how far it went, I want one.

    But I think the reason is that those robot arm things just can’t generate that much torque/rotational speed to give it more ooomph.

  3. Spades says:

    We had that on Make already.

    1. Sean Michael Ragan says:

      I even said so and linked to the old post. But I thought the photo alone made it worth re-visiting. Thanks for being a loyal reader, though–most people would not catch that.

  4. Marcel says:

    Goodness gracious!

    [sorry, someone had to say it.]
    [m]

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I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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