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Archive for ‘robots’

Rare Star Wars PSA Behind the Scenes Video

October 19, 2009

psa

StarWars.com readers may remember our interview with Peter Shillingford, who directed the 1977 childhood immunization public service announcement ad that aired shortly after the release of A New Hope. As it seems a lot of archival home-made movies have been making their way online lately (see the 1976 ILM home movie here), we thought we’d share another recent discovery reportedly posted by the grandson or granddaughter of the Star Wars PSA’s producer. From poster “sowtime444”:

This was shot by my grandparents in England. There is no sound. My grandfather worked for the Kennedy Foundation and produced the Star Wars commercials. He was a talented writer, among other things. He is the one with the orange-red vest on.

The footage reveals over five minutes of the goings-on behind the scenes on the commercial shoot, which starred both Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Kenny Baker as R2-D2. Director Peter Shillingford is the chap in the blue sweater.

Watch Video: 1977 Star Wars PSA Behind the Scenes

Also, check out the original commercial here.

2 Comments » | TV, Uncategorized, robots | Permalink
Posted by pvilmur

Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding: U2 vs. R2-D2

October 16, 2009

As an added part of the BBC celeb music game show Nevermind the Buzzcocks, team leaders and comedians Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding debate a music topic after every episode. This time it’s a debate pitting super-band U2’s The Edge versus super-astromech R2-D2!

“Into the Sarlaac pit with the pair of them!”

WATCH VIDEO: Noel Fielding & Phill Jupitus: U2 vs R2-D2 (via BBC)

No Comments » | Celebrities, TV, humor, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

World’s Smallest R2-D2?

October 14, 2009

Crafty Star Wars fan Rob Meyer built this very small (1/18th scale) R2-D2 with three of Solarbotics GM15 pager gearmotors. It uses two of the motors in the drive train and one to rotate the mech’s dome. It measures a whopping 2.36″/6cm tall!

WATCH VIDEO: Tiny R2-D2 in Action!

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SOURCE: Make

2 Comments » | crafts, fan fun, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

Star Wars at Maker Faire 2009

June 3, 2009

Words/photos: Bonnie Burton

Any convention that mixes R2-D2, Tesla coils, fire-breathing sculptures, a human-size mousetrap, art cars, unusual inventions and crafts is bound to have something for everyone.

Bay Area Maker Faire — May 30-31, 3009 — brought together craftsters, robot wranglers, science geeks, rocket builders, Burning Man artists, steampunks and more.

(more…)

2 Comments » | R2 Builders, conventions, crafts, robots, science, steampunk | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

Real Soldiers Love Their Robot Brethren

May 21, 2009

Looks like the Jedi and clone troopers aren’t the only ones who bond their robot sidekicks. Real soldiers show attachment towards their metal buddies who help them out of tough situations and who often save their lives, just like R2-D2 did for Anakin and Luke Skywalker.

According to Peter Singer, a leading defense analyst at the Brookings Institution and author of Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century:

“One of the psychologically interesting things is that these systems aren’t designed to promote intimacy, and yet we’re seeing these bonds being built with them.”

Singer discovered many stories about human soldiers feeling strong affection for their robots — especially on the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams where Packbots and Talon robots undertake the risk of disabling improvised explosives planted by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One EOD soldier brought in a robot for repairs with tears in his eyes and asked the repair shop if it could put “Scooby-Doo” back together. Despite being assured that he would get a new robot, the soldier remained inconsolable. He only wanted Scooby-Doo.

“It sounds silly, but you have to remember that he’s been through the most psychologically searing experience: battle,” Singer said. “That machine has saved him time and time again.”

Read the full article here:
Real Soldiers Love Their Robot Brethren
(via Yahoo News)

2 Comments » | in the media, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

MakerBot Sings Imperial March and Makes a Vader

May 20, 2009

Marius and Philip of the Whatever Lab in Vienna were visiting MakerBot founder Bre Pettis, and decided to show off the MakerBot named Martha Vader who sang “The Imperial March” and made cute, little Darth Vader helmets from ABS plastic.

WATCH VIDEO: Martha Vader: MakerBot sings The Imperial March (via Youtube)

1 Comment » | crafts, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

iPhone-controlled R2-D2

May 11, 2009

Is there anything the iPhone can’t do? A talented fan decided the best way to control his life-sized astromech would be with his iPhone.

I found a way to remote control my R2-D2 with an iPhone. In the videos I demonstrate controlling a servo and the dome motor using an iPhone using the accelerometer (tilting the iPhone controls it) and using a slider control on the touch screen. Other touch screen controls are possible too such as rotary controls, buttons, XY controls, and multitouch as well as gestures.

I should be able to interface with my J.E.D.I display as well and type in text messages in the iPhone that will scroll across the front or rear logic displays. (Cue evil mad scientist laughter ) Muh ha ha ha ha!!

WATCH VIDEOS: Remote control R2-D2 with an iPhone

Continue to read about iPhone R2-D2 here:
Glenn’s Astromech Weblog

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SOURCE: MAKE magazine

No Comments » | R2 Builders, crafts, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl

Does Threepio Have a Sole?

April 1, 2009

According to Hollywood Lost and Found, he does.

While millions of fans have seen the soles of Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO immortalized in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, the original gold protocol droid’s costume didn’t include the gizmo-encrusted soles pressed into the cement in the famous landmark’s forecourt. Apparently, these soles were special-made for the footprint ceremony (which took place August 3, 1977), and currently reside in a private collection.

Check out Hollywood Lost and Found for the full story.

No Comments » | archive exhibit, costumes, robots | Permalink
Posted by pvilmur

Did the shoes give me away?

November 5, 2008

We thought we’d start highlighting some of the cooler Star Wars finds making their way to eBay these days, beginning with this obscure unlicensed toy from Amico in 1978.

This silver stormtrooper toy knock-off apparently came in black, too, sans the shiny red shoes. Maybe the designers were going for a Tin Man/Dorothy/Stormtrooper hybrid? In any case, we’re keeping an eye out for one of these babies…

5 Comments » | Collecting, fan fun, humor, robots | Permalink
Posted by pvilmur

R2 Builders Profiled in Servo

May 28, 2008

Go inside the creative world of the R2 Builders Club thanks to an extensive profile in the May 2008 issue of Servo magazine for the robot innovator.

Craig Smith advises prospective members about the amount of time it takes to create a droid: “R2 built from scratch or built from club parts is not a quick project. It will take months to complete a static, non-moving display — even years for a motorized version. When I look at the parts on my droid, I recall the week it took to make the shoulders, the days it took to make the ankle covers, the days it took to re-make the ankles themselves because I did not offset them correctly. And there are dozens more parts on the droid with similar memories. A project such as this is a huge commitment!”

Read the full article here:
The R2 Builders Club and the Jedi Code

2 Comments » | R2 Builders, in the media, robots | Permalink
Posted by bonniegrrl