'AUTÓMATA' movie explores what life might be like in the not-too-distant future

With a name like AUTÓMATA I am almost obligated to post news of this upcoming movie. Clearly, it's borrowing some of its major themes from Asimov's classic novel titled I, Robot. One also catches the scent of Blade Runner. Still, the trailer does look exciting.

A synopsis from the film's official web site:

Fast forward fifty years into the future, planet earth is in the midst of gradual desertification. Mankind struggles to survive as the environment deteriorates and the slow regression of the human race begins in AUTÓMATA. On the brink of life and the reality of death, technology combats the prevailing uncertainty and fear with the creation of the first quantum android, the Automata Pilgrim 7000. Designed to bring support to society's plight, man and robot reveal what it means to co-exist in a culture defined by human nature.

The descent of civilization is juxtaposed by the rise of ROC, the corporation at the helm of robotic intelligence. Despite the demise of humanity, the company has set forth security protocols to ensure mankind always maintains control over the manufactured population.As ROC insurance agent, Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas) routinely investigates cases and complaints surrounding defective androids, he begins to uncover the secrets behind who is really manipulating the Automata Pilgrim 7000. Jacq's own suspicions propel the mystery — uncovering a truth that is far more complex than the make or model of any machine.

Here is where you can learn more about the upcoming film, AUTÓMATA.

[ Thanks Glenn! ]

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Up To Speed - hand-cranked kinetic sculpture by Gina Kamentsky

Here's a new wall-mounted kinetic sculpture by artist Gina Kamentsky titled Up To Speed. I love how everything is visible. Some of the found parts used to fabricate the machine are clearly recognizable, others on the edge of recognition, and still others are just plain mysterious. Of course, the playful/thoughtful nature of her work is always a joy to watch.

This pieces is from her new body of mechanical sculpture work for 2014. You can see more at http://www.ginakamentsky.com.

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Giant onboard robot arm places wheelchair into the back of a stationwagon

Apparently, this video has been around a while. Somehow, I haven't seen it. In it, you will see a very large robotic arm extend out the back of a Volkswagen Passat so that the driver can hand over his wheelchair. The arm then neatly folds back up, taking the wheelchair with it! Creative, powerful, useful; it's an incredible system.

The video description says that the arm wa installed by Kino Mobility of Toronto. Their web site now redirects to one called MV-1 Canada.

[ Thanks Christoph ]

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Disney's interactive design system for rapidly creating physical characters and their motions

Check out this amazing software designed by Disney which enables character shapes and their desired motions to be generated very quickly.

From the video description:

We propose an interactive design system for rapid crafting of planar mechanical characters. Our method combines the simplicity of sketch-based modeling with the ease of defining motion through extreme poses. In order to translate these digital designs into fabrication-ready descriptions, our method automatically computes the mechanical structure that makes the characters move as desired. We achieve real-time performance by limiting the mechanical structure between pairs of components to simple building blocks that define, trim, and propagate their motion. By focusing on shape and motion, our system emphasizes the creative aspects of character design while hiding away the intricacies of the underlying mechanical structure. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach on a set of virtual designs and physical prototypes.

By paring things down to just a character's outline and motion, the program is able to quickly generate 2D prototypes that focus on the underlying mechanical structure. The third dimension (depth) and aesthetic considerations can come later and benefit from a different set of tools. I like what they've done here. Linkages can produce some astonishing output motions from some simple inputs. Figuring out these linkages is far from intuitive however.

Here is where you can learn more about ChaCra: An Interactive Design System for Rapid Character Crafting.

[ Thanks Seth! ]

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Flying Pendulum Clock you can build from wood

Check out this nifty flying pendulum clock designed by Brian Law of www.woodenclocks.co.uk. I have owned two of the reproduction clocks designed after the New Haven antiques.

Full sized plans along with instructions showing how to build the this spring-driven mantle clock will appear in Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Issue 56, Fall 2014. The clock employs the novel and entertaining 'flying pendulum' escapement. The patterns and instructions provided by the magazine are excellent and will enable you to cut out all of the components to build the clock.

Here are Brian Law's original plans for the Clock 17 Flying Pendulum with wind up spring on which the one in the magazine is based.

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How I became a full-time clock repairer

Every so often, my blog is actually about me. This is one of those times. I have an article in the current issue of Make Magazine (Vol. 40). I was asked to write about my recent career change to a full-time clock repairer.

A few things I don't say in the article are that I also display and sell some of my automata. I have four pieces available at the moment! I also display a whole bunch of antique clocks I have restored which are for sale. My studio is located in building that once supplied the leather belts that powered the industrial looms and other machines that filled the city of Lowell, Massachusetts.

I hope you enjoy the article, From Cubicle to Clock Repair.

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