Daily Bits

Star Wars Sandcrawler in LEGO

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Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) listen up! You have something new to drool over – a Sandcrawler replica made with LEGO bricks. You might be thinking, “So? So many things have been created out of LEGO!” Then again, this one is nothing to scoff about.

Made from 10,000 LEGO bricks over a span of nine months, you can just imagine the effort and creativity (not to mention the money!) that has gone into this Sandcrawler. Oh, and in case you’re wondering what the heck a Sandcrawler is – yes, I totally get it that not everyone knows everything about Star Wars, however “epic” it might be – here is the official definition from Wookieepedia: ((Wookieepedia))

Sandcrawlers were large, slow, treaded vehicles, used as self propelled bases for mining squads. Most notable example of usage of these vessels, later adapted by Jawas for their mobile homes, was on Tatooine, where bulky sandcrawlers climbing the dunes were a common sight.

This overview of the LEGO Sandcrawler gives you an idea of the scope of the project. Again, 10,000 LEGO blocks!
Sandcrawler Overview

This diorama gives the Sandcrawler some context.
Sandcrawler Diorama

And this makes use of lighting to add some drama.

Sandcrawler Lights
Sandcrawler at night, with lights

Brilliant piece of work – and I don’t think anyone will contest that. In case you want more (and I am sure Star Wars fans will want more), here is a short video clip showing the Sandcrawler in action.

The brains behind this? A guy who calls himself marshal banana on Flickr. For more photos and details, head on over to Flickr and check out the photostream.

Nintendo Games Urinal – It Works!

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Are you addicted to video games? As you lie in bed drifting off to sleep, do you see images or scenes of the latest video game that you have been playing? Do you try to figure out strategies that will work when you wake up and get to play again? (If you even stop playing to sleep, that is.)

If you’re that much into games (and probably even if you aren’t), you’ll be amused to see this fully functional urinal that was built from Nintendo games. It is real, and it works.

game-urinal-side

To be honest, I could have done without the colored liquid, but I guess they had to show that to prove that the contraption works.

Envious now? Don’t fret – you can make a urinal like this for yourself. All you need is tons of Nintendo games. Avid and long-time gamers will have no issues, but if you don’t have those old games, I am sure that you can find someone willing to give or sell them to you. Here’s a list of things you need:

  • 40 Super Nintendo games
  • Saw drill and drill bits
  • Polyurethane spray and liquid
  • Clear waterproof sealant
  • 3/4 inch inlet spud
  • 2 inch drain spud
  • 1 sheet of Hardibacker
  • 3 tubes of clear plumbing glue
  • Urinal flush valve
  • P trap
  • Sand paper
  • SNES screwdriver security bit

Phew! I zoned out after the drill and drill bit, but this should not be much of challenge for you DIY-ers out there. For the rest of the instructions, visit Price Charting. ((Source: Price Charting))

In the meantime, good luck finding 40 Super Nintendo games!

Robot Ruby Holds New Record for Solving Rubik’s Cube

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The “contest” to solve Rubik’s Cube the fastest is a perpetual one. Both humans and machines are continually coming up with strategies and techniques to solve this puzzle in the least number of moves and shortest period of time. Recently, we were wow-ed by teenager Feliks Zemdegs when he set a new world record for solving a 3x3x3 cube in a mere 6.24 seconds. No one can say that this feat may not be broken in the future, but for now, it is something that we can only marvel at.

Now that’s the humans’ record. In case you didn’t know, robots are also at it – solving Rubik’s Cube, that is. Of course, it can be argued that at the end of the day, the accolades still fall on human heads as they are the ones that make these robots.

A group of students who were on the Mechatronic Engineering/Computer Science degree program at the Swinburne University of Technology had a brilliant final project last year. It was brilliant then, and it is brilliant now – never mind that the press just got wind of their creation.

Named Ruby, the robot solves the Cube by scanning the faces in order to recognize its status before setting to solve the puzzle. Ruby has made it to the charts – she is the fastest Rubik’s Cube-solving robot at 10.69 seconds. Impressive, but I have to give Zemdegs this one.

This is a quick rundown on how Ruby does her thing, straight from one of the students who created her: ((Source: dakiller))

The basic rundown of operation is that there are 2 systems, the PC software and the embedded microcontroller hooked together via a USB serial link. The camera connected to the PC scans in the cube and detects the colours and determines the cube in the computer, then runs through a tree search algorithm (our own implementation of Kociemba’s Algorithm) that finds a list of moves that will solve the cube. That is then fed to the microcontroller which has some big DC servo controlled motors and solenoids that manipulate the robot grippers, to the physical solving of the cube.

And here are some behind the scenes videos from the guys themselves.

QR Code Tombstones Now Available Commercially

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quiringqrQR codes have been around for a while, and people have been using them for a wide variety of purposes, but it seems that they are now making it in the commercial sector. Believe it or not, QR codes have been used to store information on tombstones!

It used to be, though, that one might have to search long and hard for people who would make the highly specialized tombstones. If you live in Seattle, or surrounding areas, then you can prepare for your own high tech memorial by getting in touch with the company Quiring Monuments.

This company has been in the business of death and remembrance for three generations, and they are keeping up with the times – actually getting ahead of others in their sector. They are now offering burial markers that have embedded QR codes containing images and info about the deceased.

You probably have seen these QR codes in magazines and ads – squarish black and white images that somehow resemble bar codes but are quite different. QR codes can be read by any device with a reader installed. For example, if you have a reader on your phone, you simple have to scan the QR code and the information will be displayed on your screen. This info can include photos and text.

So yes, Quiring Monuments is at the forefront of things, and while the technology might not be welcomed by some who want to keep to the old traditions, I am pretty sure there are more than enough technophiles who will welcome this technology with arms wide open.

What do you think of using QR codes for your tombstone?

Via NPR

This Is What Leonard Nimoy Does These Days

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Ever wondered what the famous Leonard Nimoy has been doing in the past years? Many of us know him as Spock and nothing else, but some of you may not know that he is also a photographer. In fact, last year, he held an exhibit called Secret Selves at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

A lot can happen within a year, though, and it seems that the venerable Spock has had another career change in the recent months. That is, if Bruno Mars and his recording label can be believed. Now I have nothing against Bruno Mars, but let’s just say that he is not part of my daily playlist. (If you are averse to his music, bear with me. You won’t regret it.)

Anyhow, his song title “The Lazy Song” has an official alternate video, which will make the day of Spock-lovers (both my hands raised). Then again, if you have no sense of humor, you just might want to send Bruno Mars a death threat for daring to portray your idol in such a way. If you feel that way, think again. Vulcans may not experience emotions like we do, but Leonard Nimoy is very much human.

Enjoy!

Most Amazing (and Freakiest) Underwater Photos You’ll See This Week

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I’ve recently taken an interest in diving – just as an observer. Perhaps I’ll try a fun dive in the near future as well. Diving is not all that unknown to me, my dad being an avid diver when I was younger. However, the thought of being deep underwater, unable to swim, darkness enveloping you…enough already!

Then there are awesome videos and photos of cute creatures like Nemo and the likes of him. Corals. That’s more than enough to get even the king of wusses try diving at least once!

For Alex Mustard, a British diver, he does need more motivation. In fact, he recently did something that every other diver might just dream about. Mustard dove between two tectonic plates. I know what you’re thinking – is he nuts? What if those tectonic plates had decided to move just when he was in between them? (I know that is unlikely and probably even a scientifically unsound idea, but I can’t help but think it!)

It seems that his risk was well worth it, though, as can be seen in the amazing photos that he took. ((Source: The Daily Mail))
Iceland Gap
Beautiful, no doubt, but all I could say when I first saw the photo was “Yikes” – and not a very emphatic yikes at that. More like a frightened little puppy whining…
Iceland Gap2
This one’s a little tamer, but no less beautiful. And for some dramatic effect…
Iceland Gap3

The dive was done in between the North American and Eurasian plates near Iceland. Mustard and his team of divers (you didn’t think he dove alone, did you?) went 80 feet down into the crevice but also went as deep as 200 feet. Yikes.