Matt Denton on the hexapodrobot forums has a thread about his hexabot robotic CNC router. Its a crazy cool invention, something you’d expect from a science fiction film.
In the video below, you can see the robot carefully carving out a 3D face from some high density foam.
Understandably, the resolution is pretty low at approx 7-8bit, according to Matt. I think though that the ability to move your CNC routing machine around the shop, scaring the bejeesus out of everyone and everything it comes into contact with, its well worth it.
I’m not sure of the actual practical applications of a mobile CNC machining robot, but I’m sure there is one, if only for the creepy cool way it backs away from whatever its just made!
The International Space Station care of mpancha on Flickr
The [GlobeAndMail] via [Engadget] report that a group of four college students from Toronto, Canada have accomplished a technological feat by constructing their very own astronaught-phone; with which, they managed to place a ten minute call to the International Space Station using a radio system they built themselves.
While school contacts with the space station are routinely made through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program, many of those contacts are made using a traditional ham radio.
“It’s an incredible feat of undertaking and technology, and I’d just like to say I’m really, really proud of this team,” said Humber instructor Mark Rector.
“They’re playing way, way above their league today.”
Here’s a modular robot from the University of Pennsylvania that can reassemble itself after being kicked into pieces. This is the second video I’ve seen of a robot that responds in a surprising way to its master’s kick. The first video was of the Big Dog pack robot. “
My immediate reaction was that we’re not that far off making real life replicators ala Stargate.
