Randy Sarafan writes: This Simple Bot was inspired by a work by artist James Rouvelle called Colony in which a bunch odd shaped ovals self-propel around their environment. It is my understanding that his bots were made by placing a vibrating motor freely inside of a Styrofoam ball that was then coated to give it […]
My significant other was recently given one of these Woodbaby shoulder puppets by a friend of hers who frequents renaissance faires, where the Woodbaby is a popular commodity. The puppet features a strong magnet in its base that mates with a curved metal “shoulder plate” that goes under your clothing and keeps the figure firmly perched on your shoulder. The mechanical control cable (which, per this thread discussing a DIY version, are R/C airplane control surface push-rods) runs to a simple controller that can be concealed in a pocket and manipulated to make the figure turn its head and look around in a surprisingly life-like manner. More elaborate versions have additional controls like wings and blinking, light-up eyes. Flickr user JeffreyWiden made his own. Would be cool to see an electronic version with a wireless control fob.
Personally, I find the mark of a really gifted Lego artist is that his or her work makes you look twice and say, “Wait, that’s made out of Lego?” Renowned English builder Peter Reid (aka Flickr user legoloverman) consistently achieves that effect, for me, by obsessively permutating all those little Lego odds and ends that aren’t shaped like conventional bricks or plates at all–minifig arms, hands, and tools; Technic elements; pneumatic hose connectors; etc. These arms are part of a recent “assembly line” diorama of a future factory assembling his iconic “Turtle” robots. [via The Brothers Brick]
…but non-lepidopterists will probably be hard-pressed to figure that out just by looking at it. The video rates high on the jaw-dropping scale. The ChouChou electric butterfly is, in fact, a lepidoteroid robot, of sorts, from Japanese firm Tenyo Magic. It perches, flexes and flaps its wings, and flutters around its jar when disturbed. Preorderable now from JapanTrends.com. [via NOTCOT]
If ferrofluid and silly putty had a kid, it would be this, super paramagnetic silicone putty. Watch above as it swallows a magnet. Hit the jump for another video. [via Geekologie] More: Morpho Towers – Two Standing Spirals (Ferrofluid sculptures)
Custom electric guitar build by Travis S., incorporating an original Millennium Falcon toy over a hard maple backing block attached to a purchased neck black. I especially like the light-up engine blocks. More details are available here. [via Neatorama]
Here’s a clever idea I’d love to see liberated from its high-design context by the maker community: Sports equipment with integral POV displays. These ping pong paddles by Troika are an interesting start, but there’s all kinds of other onomatopoetic possibilities, like, say, baseball bats or tennis rackets that leave a glowing WHACK! in the air when you hit the ball. Personally, I want a set of boxing gloves that provide Batman-style comic book POW! and BAM! captions when I punch things. [via adafruit]
