Build seven different models using the motorized gyroscope unit in this kit

Gyroscopes are one of those physics-based things that seem to have an almost magical quality. You know...kind of like magnets.

With the Thames and Kosmos Gyroscopic Robot Kit, you can learn about this incredible device by building seven different models using the motorized gyroscope unit that comes with the kit. The models include a one-wheeled gyroscopic robot (shown above), a balancing personal vehicle, an artificial horizon, a gyro-compass, a balancing game, a tightrope walker, and a flight simulator. The kit comes with a 24-page illustrated manual, which provides step-by-step assembly instructions and scientific explanations.

Here is where you can get the Thames and Kosmos Gyroscopic Robot Kit.

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Snap Circuits Extreme 750 with computer interface: The best way to learn electronics?

Snap Circuits Extreme is Elenco's largest set of snap-together circuits featuring 750 experiments -- including 73 computer interface experiments. The kit covers electromagnets, strobe lights, transistor AM Radio, solar power, and vibration switches in addition to all the other experiments included in their smaller kits such as the SC-100, SC-300, and SC-500.

Here's the link to Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits Extreme SC-750

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"Serpina" -- an electromechanical wooden rolling ball clock by Christopher Blasius

Christopher Blasius wrote to let us know about his latest creation: an electromechanical wooden rolling ball clock. Check it out!

From the creator:

I have designed a new clock. Her name is "Serpina" and it's a electromechanical rolling ball clock. Instead of a pendulum, a ball rolls down an inclined plane, which takes 20 seconds. Then the seesaw then tips in the opposite direction and the process begins again.

For more information please visit his website at http://www.holzmechanik.de.

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Ingenius and elegant attempt at creating a perpetual motion machine

The sound of the ball on the track immediately satisfied me that there is friction in this system and thus cannot run indefinitely. Still, it appears to be remarkably efficient and the ingenuity is undeniable. The combination of a metal ball, magnets, a gimbaled rack and multiple pendulums is not something I've ever seen before.

This remarkable piece was made by artist Reidar Finsrud.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Wood automaton depicts the waves from a droplet of water

Check out his wood automaton that depicts the splash after a water droplet hits a body of water.

From the video description:

The object of this project was to produce an Automata [sic] that was inspired by the work of Reuben Margolin. All components were hand made the aim was to recreate the reaction of droplet as it impacts a body of water.

The machine was made by Dean O'Callaghan. Here is where you can see more by work by Dean O'Callaghan.

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Horse racing automaton powered by heat from a brewing teapot

Check out this clever automaton by Jo Fairfax in which three horses race around a track. The entire thing is powered by the heat rising from a teapot that has been filed with hot water.

See more work by Jo Fairfax on his web site.

[ Thanks Lorenzo! ]

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Upcycled! A human-powered tree house elevator made from a bicycle and pulleys!

This human-powered elevator is cool on many levels. First of all, this guy needed an elevator for his tree house! That, in my opinion, is a good problem to have. Secondly, his solution is elegant and fun.

From the video description:

I have built a tree house (though it is not finished yet) that is nearly 30 feet up a tree. I got tired of climbing a ladder six and a half million times a day, so I made a bicycle powered elevator to solve this problem. Don't you wish you had one?

He's counter-weighted the bicycle on the pulley system so less power is required to raise and lower the rider. Next, he has threaded a thin cable that runs around the bike's back wheel and up a tube in front of the rider. When the bike is pedaled in the forward direction, the bike "rides" up the cable. The weight of the rider and bike, keep the back wheel tight against the cable. This means he can also used the hand-brake on the bike's back wheel when descending, as you will see in the video. This is a beautiful bit of engineering and I wouldn't be surprised to see it used elsewhere in the years to come.

Here's a link to a post about the bike elevator on the Colossal blog.

[ Thanks Christoph!]

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Theo Jansen and his incredible walking beach creatures featured on CBS 'This Morning'

Who can get enough of graceful mechanical creatures created by Dutch artist, Theo Jansen? His 'Strandbeests' are wind powered walking creatures part art, part engineering, and certainly inspired by nature.

If you find these creations as fascinating as I do, you may want to study one (a small one) up close and personal. The good news is, you can. The Japanese company Gakken offers a number of working models of Jansens's kinetic creatures.

[ Thanks John! ]

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Clever use of an auger drill bit as a worm screw to drive a wooden gear

A worm drive mechanism can be very helpful for slowing down a gear train. Just two components can change the ratio drastically -- a task that would require a gear train with many more gears. This can also provide a great deal of mechanical advantage.

Here's a clever use of an off-the-shelf auger style drill bit. The bit is a 7/16-Inch solid centre auger bitdesigned to go into a bit brace like this one.

The end portion of the bit was modified using a Sherline micro-lathe and a Dremel tool with an abrasive cut-off wheel. We don't see how the gear itself was created, but it is modified with a Dremel and sanding drum to better mesh with the worm screw.

From the maker's description:

The wood screw, spurs and cutting edge at the end of the bit would need to be removed as well as the first flight of the auger, which had a shorter pitch. I ground away the bulk of the unwanted material on the bench grinder. The first flight was removed so the remainder of the auger would be of consistent pitch. The center shaft and inside areas of the flutes of the wood auger bit are not uniform. I saw making a helical gear as being a bit problematic for this purpose and decided to use a standard spur gear modified to run as a worm wheel. Since this would be used in a low speed low torque application, this simplified version of the worm wheel should be quite adequate. Because of the inconsistent form of the auger bit, a good deal of trial and error fitting was required.

If you feel like learning all there is to know about worm drives, check out The Theory and Practice of Worm Gear Drives (Kogan Page Science Paper Edition). As the title suggests, this book covers both theoretical and practical design aspects of worm drives. The excellent book Making Things Move by Dustyn Roberts covers the topic adequately for the average mortal, as does the affordable Basic Machines and How They Work.

If you'd rather just tinker a bit with a model (and I would, if I were you), check out Tamiya's Worm Gear Box. This worm gear can produce extremely low speeds of rotation. It has two selectable gear ratios of 216.1:1 and 336.1:1!

See more amazing creations by Ron Walters on his YouTube channel.

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Five machines that changed the world: bow, waterwheel, trebuchet, escapement, and governor

In his book Ingenium, physicist Mark Denny examines five devices -- the bow and arrow, the waterwheel, the counterpoise siege engine, the pendulum clock anchor escapement, and the centrifugal governor. The author combines narrative, illustrations, and even equations to cover the history of each device. As a physicist, he is able to explain the physics behind each machine, how it was used, how it changed over time, and the impact they had on the world.

From the book description:

Consider the bow and arrow, which transformed warfare by allowing soldiers to attack their enemies at a safe distance. Or the waterwheel, which enabled Old World civilizations to grind grain, pump water, and power machines during a period of extreme labor shortages. Medieval warriors engaged in an early form of biological warfare by using the trebuchet to launch dead animals or plague-ridden corpses over enormous fortress walls. The pendulum clock forever enslaved modern humans to the clock by linking the accurate measure of time to the burdens of schedules, deadlines, promptness, and tardiness. And the centrifugal governor gave rise to an entire branch of modern engineering science: feedback control.

Here's where you can learn more about the book Ingenium: Five Machines That Changed the World

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Flying geometric jellyfish moves through the air by turning inside out

This helium-filled geometric kinetic sculpture is known as a Schatz cube and uses a process called inversion to propel itself through the air. The object is named for Paul Schatz (1898 - 1979), a German-born sculptor, inventor and mathematician.

This fine working model was created by the folks at Festo who dubbed it SmartInversion.

From the Festo web site:

SmartInversion is a helium-filled flying object that moves through the air by turning inside-out. This constant, rhythmically pulsating movement is known as inversion and gives the flight model its name. With the intelligent combination of extreme lightweight construction, electric drive units and control and regulation technology, inversion kinematics can be indefinitely maintained to produce motion through the air.

Like some kind of angular, contortionist jellyfish, its slow motion flight through through the air is mesmerizing. Researchers are searching for industrial applications for the inversion technique and held a contest that ended in December of 2012.

Here is Festo's page about SmartInversion – airborne geometrical band with inversion drive.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Engino multidimensional construction system teaches about screws and other simple machines

The Engino Toy System uses a variety of uniquely designed multifaceted rods and connectors that may be connected on up to 6 sides at the same time. I've posts in the past about their educational sets focusing on gears, cams, linkages and pulleys. The one shown here teaches all about screws including how worm gears are used to greatly lower rotational speed, and how screws can convert circular to linear motion while greatly increasing torque. Valuable lessons indeed for anyone trying to get their head around simple machines.

The 40 page instruction/activity book show you how to build 5 working models including a screw press, a lift platform, two types of crane, and a vice -- all examples of the screw in everyday use. The activity book also includes explanations of various technical and scientific principles and how they apply to the screw.

Here is where you can get the Engino Mechanical Science's boxed lesson set on Screws.

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Intricate spring-loaded mechanical sculptures that DON'T move

Cavity Mechanism #1 w/Glass Dome, 2008, Mixed, 10" x 7" x 7 "

Artist Dan Grayber creates these small, spring loaded, mechanical objects. I would embed a video for you but there is not much point. Read on.

At first sight it is obvious that some serious engineering and fabrication has taken place, but...nothing is happening. Or is it? Indeed, these mechanisms are actively doing something, but in this case a lack of motion is the goal. Using a variety of mechanical devices Grayber's creations will hold themselves up -- even within a smooth sided glass container.

From the artist's statement:

Objects are invented in order to satisfy particular needs, specifically, human needs. With my sculpture I investigate the concept of need when the human is removed from this equation. I do this by replacing the human with the object itself. My sculptures are invented only to sustain themselves, functioning as self-resolving problems. The result is an object that has been invented only to compensate for the complications created by its own existence. The piece alone represents the need and the resolution.

Here are a couple of other examples from the artist's web portfolio:

Cavity Mechanism #5 w/Glass Dome. 2009. Mixed. 6 " x 6 " x 6 "

Cavity Mechanism #2 w/Glass Dome, 2008, Mixed, 6" x 4" x 4"

The fabrication of these objects looks flawless. I love the consistent use of color and material, which helps to bring some very different things into a unified series.

I should point out that not all of Dan Grayber's work involves mechanical object under glass. He has created sculptures that will hold themselves to corners, concrete, drywall, gaps in walls, and between the floor and ceiling of a room.

Check out more of Dan Grayber's mechanical sculptures on his web site.

[ Thanks James! ]

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Video shows you exactly how to build a tiny electric motor

I won't need to say much about this video from hilaroad.com that shows how to build a simple electric motor because it is so well-made and comprehensive. The video shows you step-by-step how to go about making a simple battery powered motor. This is a great rainy-day project, party trick, and desktop conversation starter. I've made one myself and the results -- even though entirely expected -- are mysterious and somehow thrilling. You really should try this when you have 20 to 30 minutes (tops!) to spare.

The video also covers the basic theory involved in electromagnetism, which includes the disassembly of a small toy motor. It all makes a lot more sense once you've made a small motor of your own. Other versions of this simple motor have you strip the varnish off the wire on only half of one of the wires. This makes the jump to understanding the commutator a little easier.

If you feel like getting the various materials together would be a hassle, you can always spend a couple of bucks on the Simplest Motor Kit. This would be good option if you want to send one to someone by mail. Though the included explanation book is said to be confusing, if you use it in conjunction with the video shown here, everything should be clear.

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Laser-cut Stirling engine kit runs on a single tea candle

Check out this lovely Stirling engine. As you can see in the video, it runs very well on a single small tea candle. In addition, the diaphragm material is easy to replace. The parts are laser-cut Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).

This Stirling engine will be available as a kit from the nice folks at Bustedbricks.com, who also offer supplies the models, model engineering, and other hobbies.

For more info on Stirling engines (until you get the kit shown here, of course) check out the book Eleven Stirling Engine Projects You Can Build, which includes detailed reviews of 4 existing Stirling engine kits, several original engine designs by the author, and a few classic designs from the web. Many of the design in the book can be made with materials scrounged from around the house.

If you simply can't live without a one, this assortment of Stirling engine kits should keep you very busy. Enjoy!

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Students learn engineering principles and build relationships by creating automata

Scott Swaaley, a physics teacher in San Deigo, has created a remarkable educational program called Seniors Squared. Swaaley had his students design and create custom automata to teach them about physics and engineering principles. That's a great idea, for sure, but it didn't end there. Swaaley and his students took this educational experience to another level by partnering with local senior citizens. Here's an excerpt from his description of the program:

As part of a joint physics and humanities project, my high school seniors partnered with senior citizens from a local senior community center and designed, constructed, and troubleshot an automaton specifically for their senior citizen partner. My students learned and applied concepts ranging from torque, simple machines, and angular velocity to engineering design principles and the precision of an engineering proposal. Their project was accompanied by an engineering analysis of their piece as well as a series of writing pieces on their senior citizen (on which the automaton was based). Overall, my students were able to practice engineering, get involved with our local community, and to build a meaningful relationship with a local adult in need.

Because of this innovative program, Swaaley has been selected as one of 30 finalist for McGraw-Hill's Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Innovative Educator Award (STEMIE Award)! Voting has begun to select the winners, and you can help by voting now.

How you can vote for the Seniors Squared program:

1. Sign up to vote on the McGraw-HIll web site. It only takes 15 seconds!
2. Once you are signed up, you can view the application video on the grant website.
3. On the bottom right of the application page, under the description of the project, there is a green button that says "Vote for this". Please click it!

If you think this program is as great as I do, take a single minute (or less) to give him your vote!

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Engino's mechanical toy system teaches the physics of pulleys

I've done short posts in the past about the Engino Toy System. The system uses a variety of cool multi-faceted rods and connectors that are designed to be connected on up to 6 sides at the same time.

Previous posts include educational sets focusing on gears, cams, and linkages. These seemed like good choices because they are indispensable to automata making. The set shown here focuses on pulleys -- another very hand mechanical device for automata making!

From the product description:

Learn how pulleys can be used to transfer force with reduced friction and how to increase force or speed at amazing levels. Build 5 working models including an oil drill, a stationary bike, cranes, bridges and a machine blender.

A 40 page book is included with the set providing experiment ideas and detailed explanations of the different technological principles involved in pulleys.

Here's where you can get Engino Mechanical Science: Pulleys.

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Working out the tumbling acrobat toy...in paper!

Head on over to the blog of paper engineer, Rob Ives, to follow along as he works out the geometry and mechanics of the classic tumbling acrobat toy. Ives is dissecting the motion of a Japanese version of the tumbler toy to figure out how to recreate it in paper. Incredible!

From his recent blog post:

In essence, the tumbler has three parts. the body with the sliding weight, the arms and the legs. I traced the three parts and experimented with different stills from the YouTube video to work out where the joints should be.

Here is a link to the latest blog post about the paper tumbling acrobat by Rob Ives.

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Two-legged walking robot toy moves via shape-memory alloy

I was introduced to robotics and shape-memory alloys when I bought the book Stiquito for Beginners: An Introduction to Robotics and made the small hexapod robot that comes with the book as a kit. The clever little two-legged inchworm robot shown here is powered by the same Muscle Wire, also known as Nitinol. Nitinol is nickle/titanium allow that will return to a pre-defined shape when brought to specific temperatures. Heat from an electrical current causes it to contract, making this little inchworm take tiny steps. Though the Stiquito was fun to make, this robot looks like an even better introduction because the design is simple, robust, and moves along a bit better.

From the Inchworm Robot description:

Each BioMetal Fiber Walking Robot Inchworm has one strand of BioMetal Fiber. When current is applied, the fiber heats up and contracts. This pulls the Inchworm's feet apart. When the current is stopped, the fiber cools and expands. Add a little grippy fabric on the bottom of each foot and the spring to return it to its original position, and you can easily see how the little inchworm can walk along most non-slick surfaces.

Here is where you can get your own BioMetal Fiber Walking Robot Inchworm. Here are some items for those interested in Stiquito robots. The basic Stiquito (as shown on the book cover, right) is controlled manually like the Inchworm. You have to push the button to provide the electrical current that causes the muscle wire to contract. The newer Stiquito book uses a microcontroller to provide the current automatically for a more autonomous robot.

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Levitron Revolution Platform will levitate small objects for display

Got a small item you would like to show off in the most futuristic of ways? The Levitron Revolution makes levitating display objects possible! It can hold an object up to 13 ounces in mid-air and illuminates it from below(always dramatic) with 4 white accent LED spotlights. For the added sci-fi effect, the objects continuously revolve in space. Got any ideas? We would love to hear them!

Here is where you can get the Levitron Revolution Platform.

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