Jul 14 2009 Great: EATR Robot Feeds On Dead Bodies
Well we've already seen robots that can feed on organic matter, and now, an even scarier one. Wait, does that say chainsaw?
Robotic Technology Inc.'s Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot -- that's right, "EATR" -- "can find, ingest, and extract energy from biomass in the environment (and other organically-based energy sources), as well as use conventional and alternative fuels (such as gasoline, heavy fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, coal, cooking oil, and solar) when suitable," reads the company's Web site.
That "biomass" and "other organically-based energy sources" wouldn't necessarily be limited to plant material -- animal and human corpses contain plenty of energy, and they'd be plentiful in a war zone.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! I'm okay, I'm okay. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! No I'm not. Hold me. Lower. Little lower. Lower. What?! THIS COULD BE OUR LAST NIGHT ALIVE!
Upcoming Military Robot Could Feed on Dead Bodies [foxnews]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in. No, really, thanks -- I hate sleeping. WITH YOUR SISTER! (snores)
Feb 27 2009 Guy Makes Realistic Bioshock Syringe
Harrison Krix, the same guy that made the realistic Portal gun for his girlfriend has gone and made himself an ADAM syringe from Bioshock. Krix is a prop designer by trade, so it comes as no surprise he loves making this sort of thing.
Krix started with the pump and handle of the syringe, which he noted was modeled in the game after 1920's era gasoline pumps. Guess there are a lot of old-timey gasoline scraps lying around Atlanta, because Krix found his own pump, circa 1926, to use in his project. After that, he found a glass container to hold his "ADAM," added a cap to the end of the handle, and then stuck on the needle, which he built from a foot-long piece of PVC.
From there, he built some LED lights into the ADAM chamber to give his ADAM (which he made with red dye, hairgel and water) that freshly-harvested-from-human-flesh glow. For the piece de resistance, he attached a baby bottle nipple to the ADAM chamber, so you can pretend to drink the ADAM just like a Little Sister would. After that, it was just a matter of adding weathering effects to make the thing look like it'd been around the block of a failed underwater utopia.
I'd drink from it. Krix does commission work too so check out his blog if you're interested in him making you something. I'm already requested a Master Sword and Triforce though, so it may take him a while to get to your project. And speaking of which: I really don't feel safe when I come to visit, you should move.
Hit the jump for several more shots(!) of the awesome.
UPDATE: ZOMG, he already made a Master Sword, along with Hylean shield and Midna's helmet! Go here to check them out.
Apr 2 2008 Problem Solved?: Tree Produces Diesel Fuel
The Brazilian tree Copaifera langsdorfii (aka the diesel tree or kerosene tree) produces a natural diesel fuel that requires very little filtering (one pass through a coffee filter) before it's ready for use. Just kidding about the coffee filter thing, I don't know what it takes. You stab the tree and presto, delicious, natural diesel. Unfortunately the fuel only has a shelf-life of 3 months. I was still excited at this point, until I started doing a little further research (being the intrepid reporter than I am) and found a source (wikipedia) that states "despite its vigorous production of oil the tree does not grow well outside of the tropics and does not show promise as a reliable source of biodiesel." So yeah, shit. But who knows, maybe with a little genetic modification we can have them walking around and talking like the Ents in Lord Of The Rings. Then we won't need cars, we'll just ride those leafy bastards.
Gasoline Grows On Trees [gizmodo]
Thanks to Bigjerm, who doesn't need gas to run because he's a solar powered sex machine, for the tip
Dec 20 2007 Eco-Boat Powered By Human Fat: Grody
The world's fastest eco-boat is going to make an attempt at breaking the round the world speed record using human fat based fuel with a zero carbon footprint. The boat is owned by Pete Bethune, who mortgaged his house and sold all he and his wife's belongings to make it happen. The lunatic even had liposuction to donate some of his own fuel for the project - about 100ml worth. Two other much larger patrons contributed 10 liters in total. This made about 7 liters of fuel and will get the boat about 15 km (~9 miles) out of their 44,000+ km (28,000+ mile) journey.
The current record for the journey is 75 days, and Bethune hopes to do it in around 65. The boat cost about $3 million to build, carries 3,000 gallons of fuel, and weighs 23 tons when full. No word if they intend on filling all 3,000 gallons with human-fat fuel, or a combo of that and other bio-fuel If they do plan on going all human fat, they need to get in contact with my wife. She could definitely fill that thing up. Or if they get low during the trip she could just float out and top them off. She's huge folks, it's gross.
Check out a bunch more pictures after the jump, included one of Bethune, and one of the route.
