10 Things I Can’t Wait to See at Maker Faire Orlando
Maker Faire Orlando has been on my bucket list even before I joined Make: in 2014. It is a long story I will refrain from. But one that has never lined up for me to attend until now! In excited anticipation as I was perusing this year’s exhibit. How can one not get a little bit giddy about a private jet that drives down the street, AI that lives in a pickup truck, portraits built from hundreds of hand-drawn words. Here are the first 10 things that caught my eye so that means I likely will have a lot of pleasant surprises on-site AND I just learned a second stage was added doubling the presentation and demo line up so hearing from pro theme park makers to learn how the draw will join the lineup. The schedule is still being added to!
1. PlaneCar
Steve Woodruff of AutoBeYours took the fuselage of a 1982 British Aerospace Hawker private jet and dropped it onto the running gear of a 2004 Prius. The result is a hybrid art-car limo you can climb inside, with the vintage cabin, flight controls, and wiring all on view. It’s street legal, with lights, signals, horn, and seat belts, and it stays within legal width and height limits. I wonder if it is driving to Maker Faire Orlando that would cause a fun back up on Interstate 4.
2. Freedom A.I.
John Bach’s premise is simple: your AI assistant should be yours. Freedom A.I. is a customizable personal-assistant system where you pick the character, voice, personality, and interface, then carry it between compatible Windows machines. At the Faire, John is demoing his own assistant, “Ghost,” wired into a heavily modified Chevy Silverado. Ghost hears and answers visitors through the truck, and a physical Ghost character adds to the show. We are always looking for a “good dog” physical AI project at Make:.
3. Rocket Tracker
Retired engineer John Smith built Rocket Tracker, a system that autonomously follows and films rockets as they launch toward space. An operator steers a gimbal carrying two cameras with a joystick; once the tracking camera spots and identifies a boosting rocket, the system locks on and follows it while a telescope camera records the plume. In good light, John says the rocket body is visible from more than 140 miles away.
4. 3D Printed Cameras
Photographers have built their own cameras for as long as there have been cameras, but desktop 3D printing has thrown the doors wide open. Photographer and printing enthusiast Jacob Bates has spent the last few years chasing his ideal camera by mixing existing open designs with parts he models himself.
5. Curtis Epperson’s Word Mosaic Art
From across the aisle, Curtis Epperson’s pieces read as bold portraits of characters, animals, landmarks, and pop-culture icons. Step closer and the image dissolves into hundreds of hand-drawn words and phrases about the subject, and no word appears twice. I wonder if he has done a Maker Faire poster before, I think he did a Makey for Orlando a few years ago. I might have to ask for a friend ;).
6. Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes
Jai-alai is a Florida institution, so it’s fitting that Orlando studio Astro Crow built an arcade game around it. Throwback! Jai-Alai Heroes is an award-winning indie title that exists only as an arcade cabinet, designed, coded, and fabricated by local developers. I might be on special assignment from our Editor Sam to learn more about this one.
7. Jupiter 7
Jupiter 7 turns a booth into a space-themed workshop. Laser cutters and 3D printers run live, handmade creations line the tables, and visitors of all ages get to build their own space projects rooted in science and engineering. The maker behind it runs a small manufacturing and education business spanning laser design, 3D design, and, delightfully, beekeeping. I am a sucker for a clever play on rethinking a space and adding some whimsy at the same time.
8. Orlando Ghostbusters
Who are you gonna call? The Orlando Ghostbusters are a community cosplay and prop-building group, and they bring works in progress so you can see exactly how their gear comes together, 3D-printed parts and all. For a heartstring tug, they also make small goodies to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
9. Block Printing with a Modern Twist
Warren Hart III, who works as Famous After Death, skips the carving knife. He designs his printing blocks digitally and 3D-prints them, then uses them to pull bold, original prints. You may recognize him from Maker Faire Bay Area but without Maker Faire Orlando, I would not have met him at Maker Faire Miami three years ago.
10. The People Who Make It Happen
The thing I’m most excited to see isn’t on the exhibit map: it’s the team behind Maker Faire Orlando. The Faire is independently organized by The Maker Effect Foundation, and pulling off an event this size, from exhibitor wrangling to Field Trip Day, takes a devoted and passionate volunteer crew. This year I’m also looking forward to connecting with fellow Maker Faire producers from Miami and Daytona. Every Faire is homegrown, and trading notes with the people who build them in their own cities is how this whole network keeps getting better. (Photo stolen from Miami Producer, Tom’s social for Maker Faire Orlando’s Producer, Ian Cole’s recent birthday. Asking for forgiveness now.)
See You at the Faire, Gillian! gillian@make.co
Create your shortlist from the exhibits at Maker Faire Orlando.
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