Twitter-controlled N900 LEGO robot
NIKO is a collaborative effort to build a Twitter-controlled robot as part of the Noika PUSH N900 Mod in the USA campaign. Recently team member Eric posted this short video showing hie progress.
Fun & Games
The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for bikes, rockets, R/C vehicles, toys and other diversions.
Rubik’s cube for the blind
From Yanko Design. [via Boing Boing]
Helicopter with hydrogen-peroxide-rocket-powered blades
Shown above is a video of the Dragonfly DF1, an experimental aircraft under development by Swisscopter US. Instead of a traditional gasoline engine, the Dragonfly has peroxide-powered rocket engines on the tips of its main blades, with a mechanical take-off to drive the tail-rotor. Large tanks of high-test peroxide supposedly provide 50 minutes of flight at 40 mph.
Tivo’s 30-second commercial skip easter egg
If you’ll recall, there was a lot of industry flap when DVRs were becoming available because of the effect that automatic pre-recording of programming would have on TV advertising. Automatic commercial-skipping features introduced the possibility that viewers could watch TV for the rest of their lives and never have to see another ad. ReplayTV, an early and promising competitor to Tivo, was basically destroyed by industry legal action over its automatic commercial-skipping feature. The fact that you have to fast-forward through commercials on your Tivo today, using that clunky pop-goes-the-weasel scan routine, is basically a concession to TV advertisers who would not abide a system that didn’t require you to at least watch the ads on fast-forward.
In the Makers Market: Build Your Own Cover Books
This funky book is made from two 5″ (16 X 16 dot in geek speak) square green LEGO® base plates. The paper is 70 lb. 100% recycled white paper suitable for writing or drawing. There are 10 signatures with 8 pages a signature for a total of 80 pages (or 160 if you count front and back sides.) Also included are 20 flat LEGO® pieces (the pieces may differ from the picture) AND a LEGO® separator so you can create the cover of your choice! This is the FUN part – go minimalist with the plain cover or add some color…All of my books and albums are made by hand in my home-based studio. So my creations will last I use acid free paper, cloth, and glue.
How-To: SNES Super Gameboy line out audio
Instructables user Kyle Robinson writes: The Super gameboy (SGB for short) is Gameboy cartridge player for the Nintendo Entertainment system. Chipmusicians who use LSDJ or Nanoloop can use the SBG to compose on a large screen. Wether its at home with friends, or in a studio environment, the SBG can be a great tool for […]
Winners at the North American Handmade Bicycle show
Yesterday I took a Sunday Scroll over at the North American Handmade Bicycle show site, drooling over the bikes pictured with their enthusiastic creators. With categories like “best fillet brazing” and “best carbon fiber,” it’s clearly a maker’s kind of tradeshow.