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)
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Tags: Celebrities, Humor, Robots, TV
In Pop Culture | 
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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 » | Tags: Robots, Videos
Around the Web, Creativity | Permalink
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
Events | Permalink
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)
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Creativity | Permalink
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 » | Tags: R2-D2 Builders, Robots
Creativity | Permalink
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 » | Tags: Costumes, Robots
Events | Permalink
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 » | Tags: Humor, Robots
Collecting, Fans and Community | Permalink
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 » | Tags: R2-D2 Builders, Robots
Around the Web, Fans and Community | Permalink
It’s everyone’s favorite droid! IEEE Spectrum talked with R2-D2 builder Steve Simmons at Maker Faire to find out how the Star Wars droids work.
VIDEO: Maker Faire 2008: R2-D2 Builders
VIDEO: Artoo dancing with children at Maker Faire 2008
For more info about R2 Builders, check out Artoo-detoo.net.
2 Comments » | Tags: Conventions, R2-D2 Builders, Robots
Creativity, Events | Permalink
Every year mad scientists, robot builders, power tool drag racers, craftsters, and other DIY guys and gals gather together at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds for one of the coolest events in the Bay Area — the Maker Faire!
This year there were plenty of fun things for Star Wars fans to see and do — including crafts, R2-D2 dancing, prop displays, the LEGO Jeep, Steampunk contraptions and more!
5 Comments » | Tags: Conventions, LEGO, Maker Faire, R2-D2 Builders, Robots, Steampunk
Events | Permalink
