Cast Your Vote for the First ‘Ultimate Maker Vehicle’

We recently reached out to a handful of makers and asked them to submit designs of their Ultimate Maker Vehicle. Their blueprint was to involve a 2014 Ford Transit Connect that we’ve previously profiled as a versatile maker-mobile. Makers were given an imaginary budget and specific build constraints. And now we’re turning to you to judge each entry based on overall Design, unique Customizations, and Maker Spirit embedded within.

The Ultimate Maker Vehicles entered in this challenge represent the build designs of both individuals and groups of makers. You’ll find mobile makerspaces on wheels, multiple methods for storing and deploying tools, many designs that extend the overall footprint of the vehicle, and even a robotic puppet riding shotgun!

Voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, December 12th. You may vote once per day for as many entries as you like. The Grand Prize winner will receive a sizeable $10K prize, with the Runner-Up receiving an also-substantial $2,500. Read more about each vehicle (including really wonderful videos from all of the contestants) on the Ultimate Maker Vehicle landing page and share your favorite entry from our albums on Google+ and Facebook to help decide the winner of this unique contest.

“The design revolves around a main component dubbed “The Fabber”, which is a three-axis CNC base with multiple tool heads and build platforms that can be swapped out to suit the various fabrication…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvfab

“The Ford Transit Disaster Relief Vehicle (DRV) is designed with the capability to provide sustained relief to disaster areas by providing warm food, clean water, shelter, communications/information exchange, and…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvftdrv

“Innovation – Improving existing IDEAS & creating new IDEAS through a new way of thinking that moves society forward in a positive way. My Moto – New experiences ignite new IDEAS (innovation)…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvgywx

“LandLab is an all-terrain, modular base-station built on the Ford Transit Connect, designed for use in disasters, emergencies, scientific research…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvllab

“The goal of MakeIt Labs is to enable anyone to create anything they can dream up. Naturally, we wanted to extend that goal to the UMV with the twist that instead of the makers coming to the makerspace, we’d bring the…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvml

“The Urban Photography Response Vehicle is a culmination of ideas and thoughts that have come from years of working in the film and production industry. Each feature we integrated into this design has a specific function…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvuprv

“Milwaukee Makerspace is a diverse group of makers. With 125 members and such a wide ranger of interests, the 2014 Transit Connect is a perfect match for our diversity. We take part in many different events around the city…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvpp

“Robot Ambulance is a toy robot fabrication lab on wheels. The goal of the project is to drive to schools, Maker Faires, or birthday parties and get kids making.” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvbl

“A giant video game. On wheels. Without video. WHAT? Video Sans-Video Game is a “video game” using computer numeric control (CNC) to drive the action. Player’s side-scroll their way through game levels…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvvsvg

“I am a HUNTER GATHERER of junk in and around the city of NY. I have a pick up truck with loads of tools packed in to boxes under the back seat.. I can never get to the tools.. I end up using my leather man for all in the field…” See more of this Ultimate Maker Vehicle: http://bit.ly/umvhg