Yesterday, Baumgartner climbed into the specially made capsule, taken to an impressive 71,581 feet by a helium balloon. That works out to about 13 miles off the ground. After running through his checklist and depressurizing the capsule, he leapt into the thin cold air. He free-fell for 3 minutes and 43 seconds. At 7,890 feet, he pulled his parachute and floated safely to the ground about 30 miles from Roswell, New Mexico. During the free-fall he reached a peak speed of 364 mph.

The video clip below shows the preparation for the jump, but skips over the jump itself – presumably to keep us in suspense until the 120,000 foot leap.

The team discovered during the test jump an issue that will have to be tackled before the record-setting attempt is made. Baumgartner says that his hands were so cold from the frigid temperatures at that altitude he could hardly move them.

[via Space.com]

Baumgartner will be placed inside a capsule to attached to a gigantic helium filled balloon which will carry him to about 120,000 feet in altitude. The air temperature at that altitude is -70°F and there isn’t enough oxygen to sustain life. The daredevil plans on wearing a custom-made pressure suit that is designed to handle the velocities he will attain on his return trip. It will take him roughly 3 hours to get to 120,000 feet while it will take him only 5 1/2 minutes to freefall to 5,000 feet, at which point he will pull his parachute ripcord.

Baumgartner says that from the time he steps out of the capsule and begins his freefall, it’ll only take 30 seconds for him to break the sound barrier. He claims that testing has been completed and the jump window is set for July. The stunt will be performed somewhere over New Mexico. I hope he has a camera that can survive the jump. I want to see some first-person video.

[via Fox News]

This robot was developed by Yasunori Yamada from the University of Tokyo, and the quadruped robot can jump, walk, and gallop (sort of). Yamada-san is studying for his Master’s, and I have to say that his PIGORASS robot is pretty impressive. The ‘bot has got a simulated neural system, which means that you don’t have to program every eventuality into it. The artificial pneumatic muscles do the job.

I just wonder when I’ll have a fully functioning robot dog that can go walkies on its own.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Plastic Pals]

This new jump rope concept (which is a very strange thing to write) called the E-rope has turned up at Yanko Design. The concept might still leave welts on the uncoordinated, but it will actually do something else — charge AA batteries.

Each handle of the E-Rope holds a pair of AA batteries that are charged by the motion of the rope spinning around. A LED on the concept shows when the batteries are fully charged. The designer says 20 minutes of jumping will charge the batteries fully. On the other hand, plugging your rechargeables into a wall charger will net the same results without you cracking even the slightest of sweats.

The objective of Kobra Editing’s little Flash game Tetris’D is simple. Blocks fall from the sky  just like they do in the original ‘tris, except instead of controlling the blocks, you move a little stick-figure dude who’s about to be crushed by them-thar falling blocks. You can move and jump over bricks, and with enough practice, you can even wall jump while you’re moving through the air. All you’ve got to do is stay alive without being smooshed or falling off of the platform. But don’t let the simple premise fool you. This game will seriously kick your ass when you first pick it up.

Wanna give a shot? Jump on over to StickPage and get to some Tetris’D platform’n now’n. While you’re over there, be sure to check out Kobra’s accompanying Tetris’d stick-figure animations for an added diversion.

[via DownloadSquad]

Queens, a simple game–jump, run–subverts that concept and uses it to illustrate the hopeless pattern of domestic violence and the way it is perceived in society. The game was completed in two days for a competition on that theme, and is only one of the conceptually interesting titles to emerge from that challenge.

Just as with any game of this type, your characters die. Rocks fall. Chasms are large. Your finger slips on the x key. But each of these characters has a name, each represents a woman, and they are all being sacrificed in the name of entertainment.

It’s an interesting game and a sobering treatment of the material; it makes you think a little without shoving anything down your throat. You can check out Queens, and all the other games completed for the two-day mini competition, but I don’t recommend playing them all in a row.

[Queens and more via auntie pixelante]

The guys over at Borne Games have created this flattened version of the game (in partnership with EA), and it’s kind of reminiscent of classic Prince of Persia type of game when squished into just 2 dimensions. I suppose if there were some enemies in there, I’d think more Shinobi.

The keyboard controls are still a little wonky compared to a joystick, but it is only a Beta, so I’m sure it will improve.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

While the video above gives you a taste of what the game looks like, the best way to check it out is to head on over to the ME 2D web page and play it now. What are you waiting for?

[via The Awesomer]

The spring-loaded PoweriZers amplify the pressure of your jumps enabling you to perform death-defying feats of athleticism.

Now I don’t need to tell you this, but bouncing ten feet in the air on something that combines a pogo stick and stilts isn’t for everyone. PoweriZer’s makers assume that you’re a) physically fit; b) have impeccable balance, and c) aren’t afraid to break a few bones while you learn how to use them.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You might recognize the PoweriZers from this slick insurance company commercial that was in heavy rotation last year…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

If you’re up for the challenge, they’re available purchase from PoweriZer online. Models range from $329.99 to $429.99 a pair, and must be purchased based on the wearer’s body weight.