Building the Replica of David Bushnell’s Turtle

In 1776, during the American Revolution, a Connecticut Yankee by the name of David Bushnell had a daring idea to break the British blockade of New York harbor: he would build a one-man submarine and somehow attach a bomb to the underside of the British ships and blow them up. Intrigued, Rick and Laura Brown of Handshouse Studio led the effort to re-create the building of a replica of this wooden submarine, nicknamed the "Turtle," using only the tools and technologies of the day. Read more

"ROBO-ONE in the Space" promises low-orbit robot battles

Besides the promised army of nanobots that will fulfill our every want and need, there hasn't been too much about the "future" to get really jazzed up about -- until, that is, we found out about a little event happening on October 10, 2010 called "ROBO-ONE in the Space" (actual title, not a machine translation). From the same enthusiastic folks who bring us the fascinating terrestrial robot battles and posedowns in Tokyo every year, ROBO-ONE in the Space is an ambitious project that was announced at this year's competition, in which the organizers plan to launch a 125,000-cubic centimeter "piggyback satellite" into polar orbit in conjunction with a larger payload-- all for the purpose of robot grudge matches in zero gravity. Read more

Evil Robot

Big Dog Walking 4-Legged Tank/Mule. Here

Funny New Year's game

Here

The Lost Cosmonauts

Few people realize in these days when satellite dishes are found on every other rooftop that, back in the early sixties somewhere in the hilltops near the northern italian city of Turin, two young italian brothers were prying into the most guarded secrets of the mighty Soviet Union. The space race was in full swing, providing the battleground for a vital propaganda confrontation between East and West, in the midst of the cold war. Read more

How to build an offshore wind farm

More Photo

How to transferfiles between two computers(Video)

Firefox-Find ten differences

Wearable Power Assist Suit

The development of welfare machines which can meet the requirement of the elderly is now an important subject due to the rapidly aging population. The research for the robot which was aimed at supporting transfer movements of patients was begun in the 1970s, and MEL- Kong was the representative example, and an operation robot Nurcy based on the master and slave control system was developed. However, none of these show any prospects of the utility yet. More

The Amazing Climbing Robot (video)

 

Unmanned Mini-Robot-Helicopter Gets 'Weaponized' with AA-12 Shotgun

DefenseReview.com has received video footage of a weaponized version of the AutoCopter self-stabilized unmanned mini-helicopter being tested for the first time in sunny Huntsville, Alabama (The download link for this video is further down in this article.).

The AutoCopter is made by Neural Robotics Incorporated (NRI), and the weapon portion of the package is a 12-gauge Auto Assault-12 Full-Auto Shotgun (a.k.a. AA-12 Full-Auto Shotgun) made by Military Police Systems, Inc. (MPS).  More

The Hudspith Steam Bicycle

 Many visitors to the Great Dorset Steam Fair (29th August - 2nd September 2001) were intrigued by the first appearance of my steam bicycle, after several years of eager anticipation.
More

I want a Freeware Utility to ... 450+ common problems solved.

Extremely useful free utilities that do specific jobs really well and save time and money.
More

Dynamically-Stable Mobile Robots in Human Environments

In recent years, there has been a growing realization that much of the success in the application of industrial robots to manufacturing might also become true for mobile robots in the service sector. In particular, robots that could serve as personal assistants for people---especially those who are elderly or physically challenged---are moving from fantasy to the realm of the possible. The rapid progress in computing and the growing body of knowledge in robotics are leading us toward a goal which could have many benefits for society. More

HOW TO make plasma in your microwave.

How to make the simplest electric motor for 5 minutes.

You have one drywall screw, one 1.5 V alkaline cell, six inches of copper wire, one small neodymium disk magnet, and no other tools or supplies. You have 30 seconds to make an electric motor running in excess of ten thousand RPM. Here's how. Includes video. More

New way of graphic multiplication of big numbers (video)

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

How to make a very cheap videoprojector from the CRT monitor in 30 minutes

How to make videoprojector and spend 0.00$.


For the beginning we measure the sizes of a forward part of the monitor.

Then, we take a cardboard and on these sizes we make a box in height of 40-50 sm (without a bottom and one side). Now we take a lens and densely we turn a cardboard on its edges, the cylinder should turn out.




Self-made objective



Nom on the bottom of the box precisely on the center we make an aperture of such size that this cylinder could move there. We insert it there and we fix a box on the monitor.

Now all we need to do is to put the monitor on it's place and project the image on a wall
We receive the dimmy and overturned image. But, with this problem it is possible to consult. The decision - ACDSee 7.0.

Push PLAY, turn the correction of autolevels on (for increase in brightness) and we overturn the image on 180 degrees.


As a result we have received a projector almost free of charge.

DOOM on the OLPC XO!

Now imagine you are the One Laptop Per Child software design team, and you've just received the very first order of Children's Machine XO's. Around a thousand pounds of laptops actually, and you wanna take one for a fun filled test drive. More (video)

Lifehacker the book now available

Is a companion to the Lifehacker.com web site, a collection of the best how-to's from the site archives. I call it an "open source book" because its almost 2 years worth of research is already published here on the site and all the material was enhanced by additions, suggestions, questions and answers from Lifehacker readers. Here

The christmas mouse

Link

Concept phone

This phone can only be used to call with, no sms, mms, camera or garage opener.
Im not sure if all the componnets needed can fit in my tiny phone, but hey its a concept modell.
Explaining the button system, hmm when you but your fingertip (tumb) in the grove on the 123 button, you get 1 by manipulateing it to the left, 3 to the right and 2 by pressing the button down (if this dont explain it well enough I hope the picture will fill in the gaps.


The big silver button on top releases the spring loaded display to get called ID and to recieve you press it again while the display is out, to hang up a call you simply close the display by pushing it in (and loading the spring again).

The display is a lcd of the old calculator type whitout the reflective backing, so its seetrough.

Impossible triangle in Perth

An exciting new landmark has been created for Perth, in a unique collaboration between a leading WA artist Brian McKay and architect Ahmad Abas. Destined to become a bold icon for Perth, the "Impossible Triangle" has been erected in Claisebrook Square, East Perth.
Read more

Beautiful light bulb

Glow-in-the-dark light bulb encased in a solid acrylic brick!

The Glow Brick charges during the day so that it will glow for up to eight hours in darkness. The real light bulb inside is filled with a phosphor luminescent powder. The energy in natural UV light is absorbed into the bulb and then slowly released as it glows in the dark. Its glow will fade overnight but then the Brick recharges once it is exposed to daylight again.

Guys have constructed Trebuchet shooting fiery ball on 300 meters.

Guys for 2 days have built Trebuchet which shoots on distance of 300 meters. Each shot cost $120 on average. Nobody was hurt.

HOW TO BOIL WATER USING TWO RAZERS (VIDEO)

8 images of a snow crystal continually zoomed in until 36000x

Low temperature SEM magnification series for a snow crystal.
8 images of a snow crystal continually zoomed in until 36000x

Huge Russian Fighting robots

Such robots protect borders of Russia.

A confidential photo

Mac OS has won Vista for 16 moves

I organized the chess championship between Windows Vista and MacOs. MacOs beat his opponent on 16th move. There is the picture.

The Steel soap

The strange lot - steel soap. What is it for?Use the steel soap to kill very strong smell of onions or fish

Hacker has Overlocked the processor more than in 10 time

Today I shall try to overlocked the processor more than in 10- time.

Test consists of 3 parts:

1. It is necessary to choose the correct processor. During tests I have established that
the Most suitable for overlocked are U5-386SX (33 MHz).During testing I have spoiled some tens details
For the best heat conduction I have cut the plastic case to reach a kernel of the processor.



2. It is necessary to choose a way of cooling of the processor. For cooling the processor
I shall use Wood's alloy. The matter is that it плавится at temperature of 70-75 degrees Celsius
(158-167Fahrenheit) and a heat-conducting path much more above than at water.

Granules of an alloy of Wood it is placed in a refrigerator.

Further, I have made a bowl from the food foil.

To merge an alloy it is used usual beer jar.

3.The device for management of frequency. Frequency we shall change by zmeans of the generator of frequency connected to computer joystick.

We have got the generator of frequency from the old TV.

TEST!

We start a computer and it started to pour out gradually granules in our bowl. After it will heat up to a critical condition is poured out it in beer to bank and fallen asleep new granules. Operation lasts 2-3 seconds.OOPS! A few alloy falls on a floor.

The program watches frequency of the processor and temperature.

I could not photograph last result because to do all simultaneously difficultly.

In a photo the program has fixed intermediate result 297Mhz that very well for U5-386SX 33Mhz

The last was result 396Mhz. I have dispersed the processor more than in 10 time. It is a record!

It is translated from a site www.sheppard.ru

Inventors claim to turn 300 microwaves into megawatt energy weapon

If you happen to have say, 300 microwaves kicking around between you and your friends, it turns out that you'd have a large part of the ingredients necessary for a pretty substantial weapon. Read more

Hard Drive Clock

You have probably seen my original Hard Drive Clock. It uses red and blue LEDs to make three colors for clock hands (the third color is red and blue together which is purplish). The light is seen through a slot that is cut into the top platter. With some electronics it was possible to time the flashing of the LEDs to place the clock hands where they needed to be. Two students, Jason Amsel and Konstantin Klitenikfrom from Cornell University used my basic design and expanded it into a University project. Both designs can be seen below. Read more

Total Christmas light control

Now that Thanksgiving is in full swing, I think I can safely mention Christmas without receiving the beat down. In this project, Christmas is just an excuse to build a parallel port connected control box capable of switching 320 individual circuits. The interface is constructed out of two types of chips: the 138 decoder and the 374 flip-flop. Each flip-flop is attached to an individual serial port that is connected to an 8 outlet switch box. Along with this system the site features lots of other home built and modified controls.

Flickr's excellent Xmas easter egg

Flickr's got an awesome Xmas easter-egg: if you add a photonote called "ho ho ho hat," Flickr draws a Santa-hat on your pic; make one called "ho ho ho beard" and you get a snowy white beard.

How to make the grinding machine tool from Hard Drive.

How to make the grinding machine tool from Hard Drive.

We have the HDD model Seagate ST9546A Linear Speed 2.4 MB/sec 1995 of release.
What do you think, will suffice the capacity to make the grinding machine tool?

Another attempts with new HDD have failed. At one has failed the engine at the second the controller has burned down.

Here it our pre-production model - it already never will find the former life. But we that trust in reincarnation;)

We break off head HDD that it did not stir to ours test. One of the testers has damaged his hand.

You can see his blood.

We cut out a circle from an emery paper we

Paste an emery paper to a disk.

Start! Yup!! It really works! We have grinded a chisel and a knife. And now this knife we cut a doll from a strong fabric as an edge of the razor.

Look 2 minute video with this test.
How To Make The Grinding Machine Tool From Hard Drive. - video powered by Metacafe


This thing but next time I'll tell you how to overlockinf CPU in 10 times faster

The Hand-made radioactive monitor.

The Hand-made radioactive monitor.

First of all for ours semireligious ecstasy the source of radiation is required. In our case it is possible to manage old glass "fluorescent" figures which very often occupy grandmother sideboards.. They have provided me with one of harmless isotopes of radium which generously enough added in similar toys. To differ a radioactive toy from luminescent it is possible without counter geiger tube: to examinee is enough to place a subject in a dark place for the night. Present luminophor which contains in more modern hand-made articles, it ceases to be shone in 3-7 hours then it is necessary "be to recharging" on light. As any radiation here also does not smell. Radium it will be shone fifty more years. To fill panic horror before radiation it is not necessary, in fact it is an alpha-radiation, that is so weak, that it is completely shielded by a glass door of the same sideboard or a cover of hours.

Let's consider, that there is some radiation we have extracted, not violating the law, now we shall pass to the second part. It is necessary to steal traffic signs!

Excellent, obviously new sign. Headlights of the car shine it approximately from the fifty meters, however even the absent-minded radiation "blinds" objective.

The assistant climbs on a column to bite off with garden scissors a piece of a sign. I try to avoid a criminal acts ;).

Usually guide signs cover with a white "reflecting" paint which actually is short-time luminophor, instead of "reflector". The principle of effect of luminisceition is simple enough: quantums of light or radiation are absorbed by substance, light energy is more exact lifts electrons on more high-energy orbital than atoms (I intentionally simplify the description of process as it us not too interests). In overwhelming majority of cases of energy of quantums of light does not suffice for "pumping"

In turn luminophor consist of substances with properties suitable us, that is can keep elektron in the maximum orbit some time that allows them to accumulate light energy, and then gradually to radiate it, independently being shone. To achieve a long and bright luminescence it is necessary to prepare luminophor whith the account of the certain severe constraints. For example it is possible to prepare from ZnO with cleanliness for a maximum in 0,01 percent of impurity, and alloying additives in the form of salts of silver, manganese or gold should be added in precisely measured microscopic volumes, and even exact observance of proportions and cleanliness does not guarantee comprehensible result as the prepared mix needs to be maintained in strictly set temperature range in 700-750 degrees in current of several hours!
As you can see, it is crystal a fair way of manufacture in house conditions unrealizable, therefore we and come back to traffic signs. The luminophor paint which trace arrows and letters, is "short-time", that is why inexpensive. Time of afterglow is measured by the 100-th shares of second but we can see, how is bright this paint "reflects" light of headlights at night. However the one who though for a moment a sign with a principle of work of pumping in the most simple lasers, easily will understand, where I now drive.

To increase time of afterglow luminophor it is very difficult, but in fact while headlights of the car shine a sign, reflected light pleases a look of the motorist. We shall replace constant visible radiation of headlights by an invisible range which will constantly recharge ours luminophor. At once on mind comes thermal, that is infra-red radiation, but luminophors have one unpleasant property: they give out a luminescence with greater length of a wave, than "initial" light. We need more rigid radiation for this reason it is necessary to plunder sideboards of close relatives.
Radium gives out, certainly, not quantum gamma-radiation, but radiated heavy alpha particles at collision with frequent enough impurity heavy atoms in luminophor allocate enough energy. If to mix ours semiluminophor and radium salt we shall receive a light source with internal pumping!

And how many it would be required to energy for a heater as pumping if nevertheless to try to take advantage of an infra-red spectrum - this way is absolutely irrational!

The paint needs to be removed from a guide sign accurately a flint-paper, trying not scrape down a metal basis of a sign. From a plastic basis it is possible to extend easily salts of radium any acid (though hydrochloric or vinegar) while it is necessary to tinker with glass: not only that it is necessary beat small glass to a condition of a dust so also oxid of silicon from which has flown down actually and consists, will necessarily get in resulta mix in the form of an impurity and will detain the most part of radiation. In my opinion, plastic is easy for grating even.

If available there are only glass figures it is possible to try to find HF or H3PO4 acids. The first quickly enough "corrodes" glass, and we as a result receive fluoride radium. H3PO4 acid "corrodes" glass very slowly. The problem with a fluoric acid consists that is rather aggressive thing, besides it would be necessary to use plastic utensils, and in general well to have practical experience even in analytical chemistry - to count it is necessary much more. H3PO4 acid not so is dangerous, therefore does not demand special knowledge, but as well as fluoric it is problematic to get.

36 % HCL even in short distance to smell it would not be desirable, therefore for the beginning I shall dilute it.

Now we pour out a solution of an acid in a flask with a former ornament grandmother's a sideboard and......

We are hidden behind all conceivable means of an individual defence. Hands to protect unessentially as solution of a hydrochloric acid it to damage it is serious cannot (in general 10 % HCl contains even in a stomach of the person), but eyes to protect it is necessary. The figure contained metal inserts In my case - reaction was rough.

At addition of water are appreciable fine bubbles - not all was evaporated , though I am be caful, being afraid of that my thick-walled melting spot will not sustain uncontrollable temperature of a flame. It is better to wash out once again, than to lose result of two-hour fuss

Here for the sake of what we have spoiled a figure and hours. Somewhere in these salts salts of radium contain. The nobility their concentration is not present necessity - cleanliness of reactants us interests a little

Received salt-evaporation it is dissolved in warm water and it is mixed with the scratched out paint-luminophor. The insoluble deposit which it is necessary mix that the solution with salts has got even during the fineest times of a deposit-luminopfor. After that the solution is again evaporated, and now special security measures be not required. The received white weight we crumble, pounding a mix in a dust. To save time for this procedure it is not necessary: uniformity of a luminescence will depend on it.

Usual candle without dyes we crumble and it is got rid of a match. Our experiment and so it is more similar to voodoo, than on modern experience with pure reactants.

The copper wire from a power cable easily forms convenient capture.

We are meelting paraffin also is lead up to boiling then we reduce fire. On slow fire of an impurity of water will evaporate, and "dust" either will settle, or will emerge. We cool and is cut off the top and bottom parts of the fallen asleep form with impurity. Than this procedure will be more repeated , than more purely and more uniform there will be a luminescence.

Now it is possible to take care of knitting substance. Usually in its quality paraffin, but after you will stir our mix in the fused paraffin acts, try to smear the received briquette on as much as possible big surface - the area of a covering will turn out minimal. Though a pencil from such paraffin - an excellent thing. For a uniform covering shone structure of greater surfaces it is more convenient to transform our powder into a paint for what it needs to be poured out ruthlessly in bank with white gouache.

In boiling pure paraffin it is thrown preliminary pounded mix of luminophor and salts of radium and it is well stirred. If paraffin will have time to thicken, it is necessary to warm up it is temperature of fusion and even boiling of paraffin in times less "problem" for luminophor temperatures.

Now we pour out a suspension of luminophor in paraffin on a leaf of a paper. It is possible simply to llow to cool down to paraffin in the form of then to use it as a pencil.

Now it is possible to work. With porous structure it is necessary to cover any white leaf of a whatman paper in pair layers of our paint or to rub with a piece of paraffin with luminophor, to collect pair tens such sheets and to paste over with them a ceiling. Luminescences of this design should suffice you for 20-30 years so in dark corners it is possible to forget about night nightmares and monsters. Intensity of radiation is very small in two senses: both in a visible range, and from the point of view of radiating safety.

In the afternoon painted by luminophor the paper will look as usual, and very accurate and the luminescence will be appreciable only during dark time of day though it will be enough that it is easy to distinguish subjects in a room and even to read.

To ornament a ceiling green divorces is easily . It crowds of idlers of school age have a good time. But I would be not I if has stopped on banal botched work and have not tried to expose once again unreasonable greed and laziness of manufacturers of computer technics. This time we shall be convinced, that expenditure of Japanese for development of thin flexible liquid crystal panels are a deceit and inflating of funds.

Researchers received from domestic and Korean corporations very considerable grants on development flexible tft screens - the total sum by the year 2002 has reached year astronomical sum in 25 billion yens that makes 220 million US dollars.

Apparently any serious shifts for last three years it is not observed. For certain ten more billions Japanese money it has been spent for useless researches when to me was two weeks and the sum equivalent to a mug of good beer enough. It is simple to guess, that solubility salt also gel it is required that small dissociation allowed to provide a weak current at presence of a potential difference. In my case the problem is facilitated by that chlorides of the majority of metals in itself are higroscopic so even despite of paraffin dissociation will take place (usual candle paraffin is not a mix of pure limiting paraffins, and contains not only a moisture, but also a heap of impurity in the form of aldehydes or even hydrocarbons with double communications - all this allows to keep in substance up to 0.5% a moisture).

The first experience with a piece of whatman paper, a battery and pair wires has shown, that brightness of a luminescence slightly increases. To increase quantity of a moisture in "paint" I has added a few table salt and sugar in fusion paraffin. Chloride of sodium will increase conductivity due to increase in ions, and sugar differs tremendous hygroscopicity: try to leave a sugar bowl opened - crystals will be blocked , and in a week can turn in general in glassy substance. Now the luminescence is perfectly appreciable even at electric illumination.

The luminescence is appreciable even at electric illumination, though still insufficiently bright. It is one of intermediate experiences when in paraffin powdered sugar has not been added.

Further - a trick. I rule a whatman paper, I drip in cells on a drop of paraffin with luminopfor, I bring to everyone pair wires by a principle of light-emitting diode panels, and then a plait of conclusions I bring to the elementary controller. The majority of controllers use a working pressure within the limits of from 1,5 up to 5 Volt that for eyes suffices our child. As a result we receive the monitor-indicator with the cheap sanction which it is possible blunge, to twist, to connect to the electricity it is direct from the controller and in general to collect for pair hours.
Porosity of a whatman paper allows to lead some cosmetic changes. For example I dug in cells in a warm oven that paraffin has quickly impregnated a whatman paper through: it has allowed to bring wires to one party of a leaf, and to observe a luminescence with another - small editing has allowed to make the convenient indicator.

However even horrifying sizes dpi are difficult for naming lack - such papers it is possible to make greater display panels of several. It is possible to consider as unique serious lack only monocromatic though still more recently monochrome Palm's were popular. Complexity of creation of color panels consists that it is necessary to tinker with controllers and their programming (it is required on one on each of components R, G and B), and also in search of alloying impurity which will give necessary dark blue and rad shades of a luminescence. For example to find salts of cobalt, cadmium or osmium in ours through the antiterrorist world in tens times it became more complex, than any five years ago. The miracle of sir Sinclair differs simplicity and ease of programming. Management of the self-made symbolical table, the soldering of conclusions and connection to the trunk of data - two days. On "monitor" inscriptions "Z80." perfectly differ...

Finally to finish idea to the point of irrationality I used as the controller legendary monster Z80 for whom did not solder controllers only lazy. Simple programming, huge quantity of schemes and an opportunity to do taps directly from the trunk of data allow to collect "monoblock" the minimal forces. As you can see, though masterpiece it has not turned out, but now I can feel more abruptly the founder of the first Apple: I not only itself have soldered "Sinclair", but also have collected to it the monitor.

It is translated from a site www.sheppard.ru