Learn more about the project at http://jbprojects.net/projects/wifirobot/

What it is:
A robot that operates using a cluster of living rat brain cells paired with electrodes to process stimuli and deliver a response.

What’s cool:
Studying how the brain cells fire in response to stimuli (an as importantly, no stimuli) is giving researchers strong insight into how brains function and could lead to breakthroughs in treating epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. Some researchers involved in the project, also think that the cluster of brain cells is also displaying patterns over time that could be indicators of learning behavior.

What’s creepy:
1. Their are multiple research teams throughout the world creating robot/animal brain hybrid robots and systems- they are called “animats”.
2. Harvesting living brain cells to power Robots that learn.
3. See #2 .

You can read the full article at New Scientist.

Here is a brief sample of what Steve at Deadly Computer Blog did when he got his materials in for the project. He also posted a great write up and pictures of his process.

Here he built a motion platform with a car seat and mapped the motion to the view axis in an first-person shooter video game. Plus, he included some intense, body-jolting force feedback effects.

Looks like loads of fun, but something tells me it’s not something you should hop into right after lunch.

Check out his other videos on his YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/xxxvr

(Even though it’s a bit long,  we suggest watching the DIY motion platform series. For anyone thinking about building their own,  it’s inspiring and informative.)

See it in action below.

Front:

Back:

Great job, Dan Kressin

See more details at http://wrench.vib.org/lego/donkeykong/

Watch out for the vibrating cell phone and the rolling flaming candle.

Great job!

Check out more Rube Goldberg setups in our archive and stop by every Tuesday for new entries.

Like a Segway… except cooler…maybe…

It seems to have been around for a while, but we just recently ran across this one and thought it would make a fine entry for Motor Mondays. The video is a bit long, has a tinge of “Xtreem”-ness to it,  and the song gets old after the first 10 seconds, but the ride itself actually looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Though it is a bit old, you can still visit the Mojo Motorsports website to learn more

The out of phase oscillation of the individual metronomes is brought into sync by the slight movement of the cans.  Simple, but effective demonstration.

Newton’s Third Law (action <-> opposite reaction) is a doozy in space.  So when you add  a robotic arm into the mix, there is a lot more to take into consideration out in the stars where  misdirected forces can potentially throw orbits dangerously out of whack.

Cornell University aerospace engineers and researchers are putting a new spin on things by using control moment gyroscopes to drive each axis of the 3-jointed arms.

Here’s what happens when the technically inclined decide to amuse their cats.

They even offer the source code and project details at their website.