For members of the 501st and Rebel Legions, membership means celebrating Star Wars and contributing to local community and charitable causes. Virtually every week somewhere in the world, an event featuring members dressed as characters from the Galactic Empire or the Old Republic or the Rebel Alliance may be found helping out their neighbors and bringing smiles to everyone they encounter.
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Tags: Charity, Costumes, R2-D2 Builders, The 501st Legion, The Rebel Legion
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We might not have a droid army at our beck and call…yet, but in real life we can still watch robots battle each other for our amusement during the international battle bot competition RoboGames!
While 250-pound robots fought in the arena, R2-D2 was on the sidelines watching all the action like a real robo-celebrity. R2-D2 also visited backstage to say hello to the robot builders, to cheer students on at Bot Ball, and to hang out out with the next generation of robot overlords.
WATCH VIDEO: R2-D2 meets Teddybear Bot
Check out our favorite photos of R2-D2 in action at Robogames:
Check out more photos here:
RoboGames 2011
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Photos: Nate Billings
It was a proper Star Wars invasion at the University of Colorado and the University of Oklahoma game at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011.
Darth Vader, R2-D2, members of the 501st Legion, and Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew were also in attendance.
Check more photos here.
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Check out this awesome R2-D2 that’s big enough for a full-size person to fit in! R2-D2’s body is made out of a plastic barrel equipped with sounds, internal fans, LEDs, motors and a rotating dome.
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photos: Amanda Jean Camarillo & Jenny Elwick
Sometimes a girl just has to follow her heart no matter where it may lead.
After suffering through too many broken hearts thanks to dating boys who never quite appreciated my geek girl ways, I made a vow never to give my heart to anyone ever again who rolled their eyes when I attempted a Wookiee roar. I guess you could say I was looking for love in Alderaan places.
There’s nothing wrong with humans. I just find them to be a bit boring. They rarely have a screwdriver handy when you need it. They never seem interested in listening about your day. They always get lost on trips. They refuse to go out dancing. They hate relaying complicated messages to your friends. They’re so insecure with who they are; they never know what they want or how to express their true feelings.
R2-D2 puts all you human boys to shame. He’s got a built-in GPS (so says Uncle George) so he never gets lost. Plus you should see Artoo’s dance moves! And yes, he’s got more gadgets and charm than James Bond himself.
I’ve always had a secret crush on Artoo ever since I first saw him in A New Hope. Granted, I was just a kid then. What did I know about astromech love? But I kept a special place in my heart for him, fully knowing I may never meet him face to dome. It wasn’t until many years later when I landed a job as Lucasfilm that I took my chance and made the first move.
26 Comments » | Tags: Celebration V, R2-D2 Builders
Events, Fans and Community | Permalink
Every year robot builders, inventors, MythBusters and craftsters gather for a giant celebration of science geekery called Maker Faire.
And you can’t have a robot gathering without our friends the Bay Area R2 Builders Group showing up to inspire Star Wars fans of all ages to make their own astromech sidekick.
The astromechs were out in full force spinning, whirring and beeping at the crowd that constantly followed the R2 units or came to visit them in the robot area of the fair. Even amongst the other iconic robots from Lost in Space and The Forbidden Planet, and the impressive Tesla Coils, the R2 Builders were the real stars of the fair.
Every time we follow around R2 and his makers around Comic-Con, WonderCon, Celebration, and Maker Faire, we love to see kids pose with, hug, kiss, pet and even have full conversations with R2-D2. He might just be the most lovable robot in the galaxy.
Check out R2-D2 in action:
WATCH VIDEO: R2-D2 chats with a little boy
WATCH VIDEO: R2-D2 at Maker Faire 2010
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Everyone wants R2-D2 as a co-pilot but very few fans have the time and commitment to build one from scratch. It takes a very special breed of fan to not only put in the time, but the money, blood, sweat and tears it takes to make a bunch of parts into an astromech worth showing off.
WATCH OUR VIDEOS OF R2-D2 IN ACTION:
At this year’s WonderCon in San Francisco the R2 Builders Club gathered for their annual panel to discuss not only what it takes to build an astromech, but also the tricks of the trade for would-be Anakins and Jawas in the audience.
4 Comments » | Tags: R2-D2 Builders, Robots, WonderCon
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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.
2 Comments » | Tags: Conventions, Maker Faire, R2-D2 Builders, Robots, Science & Tech, Steampunk
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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
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