Complex Hacks

MABEL Running Robot

A walking robot like MABEL might not look that interesting to many people since humans do it all the time with no effort but when you think of the complexity behind what is being done in the video above you have to admire the machine! Thanks for the tip Fahd Via: Engadget “MABEL runs free for over 110 steps! In our opinion, this is the most realistic, human-like running achieved

Airsoft RC Tank Tracks Enemy and Fires

This project by Robotics / Electronics / Physical Computing is an Airsoft RC Tank that Tracks the Enemy and Fires at them. Using IR LEDs on a target and a LEGO NXT brain the robotic tank drives around looking for the target. The tank doesn’t hit anything because it has an ultrasonic sensor in the front to sense the distance from objects. A Wiimote camera is used to look for

Stereo Hacked into RGB LED Controller

Marklar who is a senior member over at the Arduino forums converted a junked radio into a fantastic RGB LED controller. When he looked inside an old radio to salvage some IR parts he spied a Rotary Encoder, these are a bit tricky to setup for the first time but they are great when you are done. For those who aren’t sure what a rotary encoder is, be sure to

Midwest Engineering Robotic Bottling Line

Midwest Engineering in Pewaukee Milwaukee has put together a great video showing the robotic technology they implemented for this Robotic Bottling Automation Line to allow it to go from bins of raw goods to a finished product. I am curious how many man hours are needed to keep this machine humming away. I think I would enjoy programming this type of equipment until a customer needed an Automatic Chicken Breast

SCI-FUN Fusion Under Sea Carbon Capture and Storage System

We are all aware of global warming,but what can we do. I think everyone agrees that we need to make drastic changes to avoid an environmental imbalance. One of these drastic changes was demonstrated to me by Stuart Dunbar from SCI-FUN Fusion at the University of Edinburgh. I met Stuart at the All Energy Conference in Aberdeen Scotland. Their idea is to capture the CO2 gas that would normally be

WASP Drone Plane Sniffs Open Wifi Networks

If you thought all you needed to do was keep an eye out for a van parked outside your house who might be sniffing your Wifi, you better think again. This WASP Drone Plane Sniffs for Open Wifi Networks. Of course it is unmanned and once airborne it can fly a mission by itself hunting down unsecure Wifi networks. Via: DIY Drones “At the Black Hat and Defcon security conferences

How to Build a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Jet Engine used in the Boeing 787

Watch the videos below to be amazed at what goes into making the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Jet Engine which is used in the Boeing 787. I can’t imagine all of the organization that is needed to get these machines off the assembly line. When you see the precision and attention to detail that is used to make every tiny part it is surprising that an engine can every be completed.