Technabob » transform

Beer Can Robot: Not Good for Bender, but Related to Him

Lambert Varias — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:17:33 +0000

We’ve featured several robots that can dispense, fetch or even serve beer, but this deceptive little fella is the beer. Can. Invented by Ron Tajima, the transforming beer can robot reminds me of the scene in Transformers when all sorts of metal objects and gadgets were brought to life by the All Spark.

The robot is controlled using a Wii-mote, and can be made to walk, roll and revert to its default – Alcobot? Beericon? – mode.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Tajima’s “much to improve in future” remark sounds ominous. But surely such a loving family man wouldn’t think of installing surveillance equipment or weapons to his beer can robot right? RIGHT?

[via GetRobo via io9 via Geekologie]

Wicked Evolution Jr: Half Van, Half Monster Robot, Half-Assed Transformation

Lambert Varias — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:48:28 +0000

According to the list of Autobots at Wikipedia there are at least 8 Autobots that transform into vans or SUVs, including the popular ambulance Ratchet and the gutsy Ironhide. Unfortunately 0 out of those 8 Autobots are real (I think). This custom-built 750 lb.RC van – called Wicked Evolution Jr – on the other hand is very real and could pass off as a Mini-Con. Its robot mode however, is… well… see for yourself:

So yeah, it basically sits on its ass, spreads its doors in a weird way and then breathes fire. It’s not much of a transformation, but its just so chunky that the fact that it can even sit up like that is a feat in itself. Plus there’s the fire-breathing bit. Here’s the van in vehicle mode:

Man, that grill is fierce. It’s not that obvious from the pics, but when Wicked Evolution Jr does a wheelie “transforms” via hydraulics and actuators, so it’s not actually as simple as it looks. Here’s the van in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can actually rent the big little fella for your parties and events, just contact its creator, Skylar, at (570)820-5327 (US number) for more details. Check out Skylar’s website for more pics and info, including the making of the RC van (Skylar’s sketch was real close to the final version), as well as Wicked Evolution Jr’s big daddy, Wicked Evolution, an ambulance-turned-show car.

[via Botropolis]

Roller-Walker: the Real Rollerskating Robot

Technabob — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:18:52 +0000

A while back I had a very popular post about Plen, a little bipedal humanoid robot who happened to be able to rollerskate. While that was all for show, this robot actually skates around as one of its primary methods of locomotion.

Developed by Hirose-Fukushima Robotics Lab, the Roller-Walker robot walks like an insect when in walking mode, but then can transform itself into a rolling, wheel ‘bot when it’s instructed to. You’ve definitely got to watch the video clip to get the full effect – it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen a robot do.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I’m assuming that this dual approach allows the robot to deal with more challenging terrain when in walking mode, then move around more quickly on flat land in wheel mode. It’s all very cool stuff indeed.

[via Robots.Net]