• Improved video footage of the inside of a mechanical bird coin bank

    Updated: 2012-07-30 14:15:27
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Monday , July 30, 2012 Improved video footage of the inside of a mechanical bird coin bank I posted the other day about this mechanical tin bank that comes to us by way of mechanical master , Falk Keuten of the Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog . He decide to reshoot the video to show the mechanism better . It worked . Thanks Falk If you prefer your mechanical birds to give rather than take , you might like the toothpick dispensing bird I referenced in that post . I use toothpicks in the workshop a lot . It just occurred to me that this would be a much easier and fun way to store and dispense

  • KURATAS – Suidobashi heavy industry (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-30 04:26:41
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: 水道橋重工： http://suidobashijuko.jp/ By 重工 水道橋

  • Robot V toy

    Updated: 2012-07-30 01:01:42
    This is video showing some of the detailing that can be done to Robot V. Lights, sounds and painting. Tom Duration : 0:5:16 Technorati Tags: Johnny 5 toy, Robot V

  • Elenco Line Tracking Robot Model 21-890 Retail $24.99

    Updated: 2012-07-30 01:01:40
    Product Features Line tracking robot kit that will follow a black line Create different routes with black electric tape or a black marker on a white background Fun introduction into the exciting world of electronics and robotics Comes complete with detailed easy to follow instructions Quality construction, no soldering required Duration : 0:2:6 Technorati Tags: [...]

  • Aldebaran Robotics’ NAO Robots Dance at the USA Science & Engineering Festival – 1

    Updated: 2012-07-30 01:01:38
    See part 2 at http://ept.ms/JVshm8. Fast forward to 3:08 to see NAO speak; 6:22 to see the dance. Aldebaran Robotics presents its NAO robots, which dance for the audience at the 2012 USA Science & Engineering Festival. NAO is a fully programmable and interactive humanoid. Aldebaran Robotics scientists are working on making robots to help [...]

  • Julius Sumner Miller – Physics – Mechanical Toys pt. 1 (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-29 13:12:32
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: Demonstrations in physics - physics of toys: mechanical By logindoss

  • SavvyBot – The Social HRI Robot (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-29 11:11:17
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: RoboSavvy is developing a clever robot platform called SavvyBot that can interact with humans by utilizing information taken from their social network and the web. SavvyBot is a platform for Human-Robot interaction. In its center is a humanoid robot that interacts with people as they pass by, [...]

  • 10 years history of 1/12 car⇔humanoid transforming robot (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-29 10:56:41
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: NOT for sell now. Twitter address BRLab (Brave Robotics Lab) By Kenji Ishida

  • CRAZY Singing Red Bull Can – Motivated (Parody) (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-28 07:11:59
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: My submission for the 2012 Red Bull Creation Challenge. Watch this Animatronic Red Bull Can motivate the makers for the home stretch of their 72 hour build. By patstarace

  • Engino's mechanical toy system teaches the physics of pulleys

    Updated: 2012-07-27 15:16:20
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Friday , July 27, 2012 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

  • The inner workings of a mechanical bird coin bank

    Updated: 2012-07-27 02:40:04
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Thursday , July 26, 2012 The inner workings of a mechanical bird coin bank Falk Keuten of the Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog posted this video of a German tin toy bank made by toymaker Lorenz Bolz . A coin is placed in front of the opening in the birdhouse . When the hand-crank is turned , the bird emerges from the hole with its beak open . In a quick movement , the bird closes its beak on the coin , and flips back into the house . The telltale sound of a coin hitting tin lets us know that the bird has dropped the coin . inside The second half of the video reveals all the mechanical

  • What is the Robot Video Contest? (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-26 09:28:07
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: Carissa explain the Robot Video Contest 2012. Vote for the best videos http://www.robotvideocontest.org http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB9D350BAA82901A2 You want to participate to the Robot Video Contest 2013 http://www.robotvideocontest2013.com ____________________________________ WATCH MORE VIDEOS: http://www.botsport.tv/ ____________________________________ FOLLOW US in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BotSport/ FOLLOW US in Google+ https://plus.google.com/105691923759025119690/ FOLLOW US in Twitter Robot competition [...]

  • USA West – Robot Video Contest 2012 (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-26 09:27:55
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: USA West - Robot Video Contest 2012 Created by Intellergence http://www.youtube.com/Intellergence Like the video to vote Vote for the best videos http://www.robotvideocontest.org You want to participate to the Robot Video Contest 2013 http://www.robotvideocontest2013.com ____________________________________ WATCH MORE VIDEOS: http://www.botsport.tv/ ____________________________________ FOLLOW US in Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BotSport/ FOLLOW US in [...]

  • Will Minecraft and Makerbot Usher in the Post-Scarcity Economy? | Idea Channel | PBS (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-26 00:12:07
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: From the Jetsons to Cory Doctorow, science fiction writers of all stripes have imagined a world where any object could be instantly created. Modern economics on the other hand, is built on the principle of competition for scarce resources. And while it may not seem like a [...]

  • Walking wooden Frankenstein monster -- IT'S ALIVE!

    Updated: 2012-07-25 15:29:52
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Tuesday , July 24, 2012 Walking wooden Frankenstein monster IT'S ALIVE Here's another fun creation from Roberto Lou Ma the man that provided us free plans for a Ramp-walking Wooden Rhino as well as free plans for a Ramp-walking Wooden robot Oh . yes , he also designed and created plans for a Ramp-walking Bird too Measuring 32 centimeters high , the Frankenstein model shown in the video is his largest ramp-walker creation so far . The slow lumbering walk is perfect for Frankenstein I love the outstretched arms and detail in the figure . Very well . done I'm not sure if plans will be available

  • Looking for antique toys and automata? A new store hits the web!

    Updated: 2012-07-25 15:01:21
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Wednesday , July 25, 2012 Looking for antique toys and automata A new store hits the web Shopping on eBay for automata and antique toys can be fun your never know what you may find . The down side is that you often have to sort through a lot of stuff that isn't exactly relevant . A new online shop has opened and you should know about it . Called simply Antique Automata and Toys the store sells just that . They offer automata , American toys dating from the 1860s to the 1960s , European toys , toys made in Japan , and toys by the Schoenhut There is a lot to see Take for example this toy they

  • Deck of cards shows spinning gears when used as a flip book!

    Updated: 2012-07-24 13:14:03
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Monday , July 23, 2012 Deck of cards shows spinning gears when used as a flip book I like the static pattern on the back of these cards . It gets better . When put in order and flipped with your thumb , it shows an animation of gears in motion Just when I thought these cards couldn't get any cooler , I learned that the pattern also allows them to be used as a marked deck . Wow . I didn't know I could feel this way about playing cards . Give me a moment . Here is where you can get you own Animated Gears Card Deck Labels : AKA animation cards gears gifts magic Paper tricks posted by Dug North

  • Printed Padlock (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-24 01:21:55
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: This video shows how the printable padlock (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:27205) I designed works. By ttsalo

  • NAO humanoid climbing a full spiral staircase autonomously (Video)

    Updated: 2012-07-23 14:26:50
    Here's a robot video that I found interesting: This video shows our laser-equipped Nao humanoid climbing a spiral staircase. Details will be presented in the paper "Improved Proposals for Highly Accurate Localization Using Range and Vision Data" by Stefan Oßwald, Armin Hornung, and Maren Bennewitz at the IROS 2012 conference. The robot integrates observations from [...]

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

    Updated: 2012-07-20 18:50:10
    : . The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Friday , July 20, 2012 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

  • Mechanical Devices for the Electronics Experimenter

    Updated: 2012-07-19 16:57:42
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Thursday , July 19, 2012 Mechanical Devices for the Electronics Experimenter I don't dabble with electronics as much as I used to , but I do on occasion . Just this week I was doing some research and had to find some answers regarding the different types of motors , how to drive them , and how to understand their torque ratings . Mechanical Devices for the Electronics Experimenter came in very . handy I'm not sure why the ratings on Amazon aren't higher for this book . True , it does not go into great depth on any of the subjects covered , but I suppose that's one reason I like the book . I

  • German made wind-up turkey - tin toy or automaton?

    Updated: 2012-07-18 17:20:41
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Wednesday , July 18, 2012 German made wind-up turkey tin toy or automaton The line between a sophisticated toy and simple automaton is not a clear one . My thinking is that it boils down to the target market . If it was for adults and costly it is probably an automaton . If it is for kids and inexpensive it is a mechanical toy . The turkey in the video is much like one currently for sale on ebay . It may have crossed this imaginary divide of mine . From the eBay : description Made in germany by Kohler . Wind-up lithographed Turkey circa 1950, blue leg version . The best I've seen in years .

  • Precise beauty: the engineered kinetic art of Anne Lilly

    Updated: 2012-07-17 17:32:02
    : : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Tuesday , July 17, 2012 Precise beauty : the engineered kinetic art of Anne Lilly Here is a kinetic sculpture by artist Anne Lilly . Like most of her work , the piece is made of machined stainless steel . Though the pieces are finely crafted and sleek , they are not motorized they require the viewer set the piece into motion via a gentle . touch From the artist's web : site Kinetic sculptor Anne Lilly uses carefully engineered motion to shift and manipulate our perception of time and space . Her highly ordered and precisely constructed interactive sculptures move in strikingly organic ,

  • Restored Black Forest clock with shaving monkey automaton

    Updated: 2012-07-16 15:11:13
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Monday , July 16, 2012 Restored Black Forest clock with shaving monkey automaton Here is an early Black Forest clock recently restored by Kevin Wright Information on piece the is nonexistent or at the very least , extremely hard to find . To make the restoration even more of a challenge , the clock's automaton was missing many . pieces When Wright received the clock the monkey was missing his right arm and hand , his left foot , mirror , razor . He was also missing his eyes . The clock didn't have the typical worm governor , so the speed could not be controlled . Wright knew he had only about

  • Female golfer automaton by Wanda Sowry

    Updated: 2012-07-14 16:24:23
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Saturday , July 14, 2012 Female golfer automaton by Wanda Sowry Female golf automaton a video by Wanda Sowry on . Flickr I've always loved the use of woods in Wanda Sowry's automata . This piece depicts a golfer . Unlike some of the simpler versions out there , this figure actually hits a small ball into a cup with putter . The ball reemerge moments later to be struck again . She's getting in some good putting practice Wanda's figures are 100 successful from the looks of the video . Their placid carved expressions are therefore appropriate . My understanding is that the game is an emotional

  • Wooden robot lost in space - kinetic sculpture by Alan Westby

    Updated: 2012-07-13 14:45:12
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Friday , July 13, 2012 Wooden robot lost in space kinetic sculpture by Alan Westby I posted last month about the wooden robot automata made by Alan Westby I just received word that he's finished another in the series . This one depicts a poor robot hurling through space just beyond the safety of its rocket ship . Thankfully , most robots don't require . air Note the clever use of two sets of bevel gears used to create rotation in two directions off of the same drive shaft . Well played See more of Alan Westby's robot-themed automata on his web . site Labels : Alan Westby bevel gears circles

  • Mechanical toys of a bygone era: dancing and boxing figures powered by rotating phonograph

    Updated: 2012-07-11 17:27:19
    : : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Wednesday , July 11, 2012 Mechanical toys of a bygone era : dancing and boxing figures powered by rotating phonograph I've posted in the past about this interesting variety of mechanical toys which were powered by a rotating record I'm not exactly sure how this one works but in others the toy is mounted on top of the record player and a friction wheel behind the figure rides along the edge of record album causing it to dance to the . music It may seem like folly to place a dancing figure on top of a delicate stylus and record . One little mishap and the needle might be broken or the record

  • Useless Box kit with all the parts -- just build and solder

    Updated: 2012-07-09 12:55:48
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Monday , July 09, 2012 Useless Box kit with all the parts just build and solder Did you see the fantastic Instructable on how to build The Most Useless Machine back in 2010 It was a brilliant project that led to a lot of neat spin-offs . Here's the version I built featuring a tiny carved arm coming out of a miniature . trunk At long last , there is a kit available so you don't have to find all the little parts , which can be kind of a pain . If you aren't a woodworker you also don't have to worry about how to build the box itself . The acrylic box pieces in the picture below are still covered

  • Mechanical tapping fingers contemplate for you automatically

    Updated: 2012-07-08 17:09:29
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Sunday , July 08, 2012 Mechanical tapping fingers contemplate for you automatically Here's another hand-themed mechanical sculpture by artist Chris Eckert the man who created the The Waiting Machine I posted about back in 2008. This gorgeous piece is titled Think Machine From the sculpture : description Cranking the handle drives a series of cams and levers making the fingers of the articulated hand tap rhythmically on the mahogany surface automated . contemplation See more photos of Think Machine by Chris Eckert on his web . site Labels : AKA cams casting Chris Eckert fingers hand

  • Universal adapter set allows you to connect 10 different toy construction systems together

    Updated: 2012-07-07 17:45:49
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Saturday , July 07, 2012 Universal adapter set allows you to connect 10 different toy construction systems together The Free Universal Construction Kit is a set of 80 adapter bricks that allows you to connect ten completely different popular children's construction toy systems . This is a groundbreaking . creation From the product web : site By allowing any piece to join to any other , the Kit encourages totally new forms of intercourse between otherwise closed systems—enabling radically hybrid constructive play , the creation of previously impossible designs , and ultimately , more creative

  • Cabaret Mechanical Theatre's new exhibition and shop are open in London!

    Updated: 2012-07-05 19:19:21
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Tuesday , July 03, 2012 Cabaret Mechanical Theatre's new exhibition and shop are open in London Here's a charming video featuring some very good news . Cabaret Mechanical Theatre has a new exhibition and shop in London There are 30 exhibits , and a small shop selling discounted books and DVDs , as well as a small selection of automata which is only available from the . store The new exhibit and shop is located : here 65 North Cross Road East Dulwich SE22 9ET The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Sunday until the September 7th , 2012. Labels : AKA automata Cabaret Mechanical Theatre

  • Paper automaton titled "Waiter! there's a hair in my soup!"

    Updated: 2012-07-05 15:07:19
    : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Thursday , July 05, 2012 Paper automaton titled Waiter there's a hair in my soup Here is another ingenious automaton from the folks at cool4cats This paper automaton kit features a funny surprise . ending From the kit description : page What could be worse You're just settling down to enjoy a bowl of delicious tomato soup , and oh the HORROR There's a HAIR in your soup And even worse , it's the WRONG SORT of hair Build this wonderful automaton and see the shocking . result The kit comes with step-by-step instructions with diagrams to help with assembly . All you need to build your own

  • Reader submission: Automaton of stork delivering a baby

    Updated: 2012-07-04 15:25:58
    : : The Automata Automaton Blog The Blog for Makers and Collectors of Mechanical Automata and Mechanical Toys The Automata Automaton Blog The Automata Automaton Store Automata on eBay Dug North Automata Wednesday , July 04, 2012 Reader submission : Automaton of stork delivering a baby I haven't posted a reader submission in far too long For July 4th 2012, let's celebrate the birth of The United States with this lovely piece . The automaton shown here , depicting a stork delivering a baby , was made by one of our readers to celebrate the birth of his niece in February of this year . It is his first automaton . It turned out very well If it was a gift , I am certain the new parents are delighted . Dave didn't tell me if he referenced any books to make this piece , but here is a very short

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