The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for bikes, rockets, R/C vehicles, toys and other diversions.
Mikal Hart’s original “reverse geocache” puzzle ended up making a big splash when we first posted about it last October. Now Russ Weeks has produced his own version using an Arduino, an HD44780 display, a servo, and an EM406 GPS.
Build a fun-for-all-ages mini car launcher for next to nothing. Get the PDF for this project here: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/12/weekend_project_rubber_band_power_p.html
More great projects at http://www.makezine.com.
This 80+ page project doc, from a German maker, obsessively details every aspect of the construction of a scale model jet airplane, with working jet engines. The text is in German, but the images speak for themselves. Su27 Project
I just had a major “the future has arrived” moment when I saw this video, taken aboard the ISS, of three spherical robots doing precision formation flying in zero-g. Note that the video embedded above is clearly time-lapsed–they’re not actually moving that fast. Here’s another video (with inevitable Strauss accompaniment) that shows two of the bots orbiting each other at actual speed. They maneuver using compressed carbon dioxide. It’s all part of MIT’s SPHERES project. [via BotJunkie]
Jeri Ellsworth has (finally :-) put up another video in her DIY pinball project. In this episode, she covers wire ramps, vacuum forming experiments, slap chop bumper and latching solenoid. DIY Pinball Update – 9 More: Jeri’s homemade pinball machine
This project by design students Julien Bergignat and Patrice Mouille seems cool at first, but Fast Company’s Cliff Kuang points out some serious flaws: [The Tatoo] neglects the way bike helmets actually work. It’s not simply that they’re padded–the padding inside a bike helmet is mostly for wearer comfort, rather than protection. Rather, helmets protect […]
Tim modified some kid-sized jeeps with laser tag weaponry + game controllers to create a live action game in the spirit of Halo’s warthog vehicles. In the above interview he explains the sizable list of gear used to make it all happen. I’m guessing a simpler take on the idea could be built using RC […]
