You know those “selfie sticks” that are taking over every tourist destination? Well those will be going away very shortly – thankfully. One company figured out how to let everyone capture the best selfies of their lives and it doesn’t involve a stick. It involves a drone.
Drone video footage and photography is nothing new to us Makers, but to amateur travelers and photographers, it’s an exciting field. Nixie is a simplified drone-slash-camera that wraps around your wrist so it’s literally on-hand at all times. Unfold it and it flies above to capture your adventures. Perhaps you want it to snap a quick family photo or you want it to follow behind and record a video as you snowboard downhill, taking that whole helmet cam concept to a new level. Nixie is only in development right now but you can read more about it at WIRED.
How does this sound for a robot build? All you need is a ruler, glue, a bone folder, a blade, and a screwdriver and you’ve got yourself a programmable bot.
Zoobotics is a German-based design studio that created a super sweet prototype for an affordable and easy-to-build “paperbot” and “motion machine” called ZURI. It comes with servomotors and a Bluetooth module for wireless control. Thanks to the modular design, which is made up of two different bodies and two different leg variants, each robot can be customized to your liking. Hopefully this prototype will hit a crowdfunding platform soon because I want in. Learn more about ZURI at Zoobotics.
Here’s what you need to do: take the next two minutes to watch this video filled with cult film scenes made from LEGO. See how many movie moments you can name. Really, there’s something for everyone – E.T., Life of Pi, Wayne’s World, the Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, and more.
The video is actually a book trailer for the newly releasedBrick Flicks: 60 Cult Movie Scenes and Posters to Make From LEGO by Warren Elsmore, the author of Brick City and Brick Wonders. The book includes sets from every movie genre as well as full-color photos and instructions for how to recreate these epic builds in your own home. These are the moments when we’re most happy for Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping.
For some reason, wrapping a high-tech gadget in low-tech cardboard is incredibly charming. Is it the irony? The simplicity? We can’t explain it, but we’re obsessed with cardboard virtual reality headset. If you’re looking for yet another affordable holiday gift, cardboard is where it’s at – and there’s a whole website dedicated to it.
You could always DIY your own project, but since cardboard is so cheap it may do you some good to purchase a professionally designed cardboard piece. Cardboard Safari’s Safari TV iPad Stand is a retro throwback that will look charming on any kitchen counter or desk. And it’s only $30. Be sure to check out the rest of their site for other ridiculous but awesome cardboard creations.
If crashing robots, fire, and explosions are your thing, start funding the Robo Games web series on Kickstarter right now.
The Robo Games is the world’s largest open robot competition. Since 2004, teams from all over the world have competed in 54 different events. And it’s more than just combat robots – you’ll see everything from sumo robots to soccer-playing robots. The Robot Games Kickstarter campaign hopes to raise enough money to document the international event in a web series and make a behind-the-scenes documentary that can entertain – and maybe even encourage some kids to get excited about math and science.
Seeing pumpkins glow brightly from the steps of your neighborhood is an important moment during the fall season. But, gutting pumpkins is a sticky mess and carving them with a plastic tool is incredibly infuriating. Enter the 3D printer.
Now you can simply print a pumpkin. Make it look traditional like a simple jack-o-lantern with a snap-on lid. People might not even look twice as your pumpkin shines under the moonlight. Or get creative and take advantage of the intricate abilities of 3D printing with a complex pumpkin lantern design. Your golden hands will become legend and everyone will ask, “How did they do that?” Find more 3D printed pumpkin ideas at adafruit.
Halloween is fast approaching. While some turn to their sewing machines to whip up some creative costumes and decor, we’re turning to our 3D printers. Here are our favorite spooky 3D-printed projects for All Hollow’s Eve.
Spend a lot of time in your car? Do yourself a favor and make this tablet mount. A simple plastic frame gets anchored to your car’s center console cup holder with a silicone block. Now your tablet is in reach for directions, music, or the occasional email check from the parking lot.
To make this project, you’ll need plywood sheets and plexiglass sheets for the frame and upright, as well as a heat gun and a drill. Next you’ll cast the snugly-fitting base for you cup holder with silicone and corn flour. Once the silicone has cured, you can attach the frame to the upright with screws or glue, then use the heat gun to make any final touches. Read the full tutorial at Instructables.
In the teched out world we live in, cardboard is in. Google got in on the game with virtual reality and now some water lovers want in with a cardboard surfboard. Yes, it seems completely insane.
But this cardboard creation is different – it’s made of a stiff honeycomb core that can actually be sanded and shaped like a real surfboard. So in a nutshell, it actually works. Now, truth be told, the entire thing is coated in waterproof polyurethane plus a thin layer of see-through fiberglass. It feels like cheating, but we’ll let it slide this time. So hang on to that fridge box next time. You can’t throw anything away now, can you?
Step one: get yourself on eBay now and buy a vintage Erector set. Step two: build the ultimate Erector set challenge – the Giant Ferris Wheel. Step three: trick it out modern style. We’re talking music from an MP3 player and programmable LED strips with a little help from Arduino.
Retired Aerospace Systems Engineer David Goodsell shared this amazing project with Make magazine and the results are top notch. The vintage Ferris wheel build keeps its vintage charm even though it’s a techy delight. Goodsell even went as far as adding a ticket dispenser and a loading ramp. If you’re ready to start this project ASAP, here’s an Erector set tutorial for the Ferris wheel. Good luck, my friends.
