This Electric Giraffe is big, and was a smash hit at the Maker Faire last year. Frank Lawlor had a great time, showing the ride to the likes of the “Mythbusters” crew, plus the hundreds of kids who fell in love with the machine. “This year,” he says, “I hope to walk outdoors around the event with the beast, and show everyone just what he can really do. I can’t wait to come back to your excellent faire!” The electric Giraffe is a huge, one-ton, walking robotic giraffe that is fully powered by electricity with a Propane engine APU for battery charging. Ask Frank to see the drawings of this massive iron friend, and get to know both the “rave raffe” and “The Zebra” (as he refers to himself). He never went to college or engineering school — he just reads the manuals and makes things work. In the case of the giraffe, first he wrote the manual, then he built the beast. Lasers and electro-mechanical machines are his dearest loves in life, especially ones that look like they just might be alive. Come say hello, and pass along your ideas for the future of the beast, who in time, he hopes to actually bring to life!
The Maker Faire is May 19 & 20 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, get your tickets in advance now, avoid the lines and save a few bucks.
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