Steve Rousseau writes for Popular Mechanics:
It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs, holds a jousting competition, flips over an album, and simulates World War II, a shuttle launch, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and even the alleged apocalypse in 2012. In its precisely executed review of history, “The Time Machine,” a Rube Goldberg contraption built by members of the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, incorporates a record-breaking 244 steps—all to water a single flower
Reportedly, the previous world-record holder, Katsumi Takahashi and co-workers at Ferris State University, had 230 steps. [via Boing Boing]
20 thoughts on “Purdue Claims World Record Goldberg Machine”
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That’s pretty impressive. I wish the video was a little clearer, as it feels like it’s just a disjointed series of mini-goldberg machines, as if each one runs independently. I don’t doubt, however, that it’s exactly as they say it is.
The apocalypse portion is brilliant. That alone made my day.
Well, now I have a goal for this weekend: 245 steps.
Well now that I know how it all ends I can relax and enjoy the rest of my time here …
Very nice,but they went straight from the medieval age to WW II?What about the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution?
We need (nay demand) a precise, and overly legalistic, definition of a Rube-Goldbergian “step”.
e.g.: “Whereas a agent (monkey) prolapsing upon a sub-agent (toaster) is accounted as a full step, said agent (monkey) becoming engaged in the playing of cymbals as a consequence maybe not be accredited as a full independent step insomuch as the cymbals (secondary-agent) shall not promote the advancement of a concomitant nor consequence series of steps viz. ibid. cf:2.7.666″
That is pretty brilliant, really. My L was actually OL. Thanks for it.
I saw that one in the prelims. Great machine.
Interesting.
But there will not be an “alleged apocalypse” then. We need to keep going until First Contact happens in 2063. Besides the only reason why something plans on happening then is because that calendar ends.
A group of characters insists something will happen next month followed by an “alleged apocalypse” happening a few months later. The group knows they are wrong, but that can not disappoint their followers.
What does that have to do with that machine? Nothing. It just shows why people do the things they do.
It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs.This is a good information.I like this one.This is a great article.I appreciate to this post.Thanks to share this great blog.Keep sharing.
It starts with the Big Bang, re-creates the extinction of the dinosaurs.This is a good information.I like this one.This is a great article.I appreciate to this post.Thanks to share this great blog.Keep sharing.