Gizmodo: motor

My Weak Muscles Need This Self-Pulling Suitcase

Jason Chen — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:30:00 EDT

I have the musculature of a ten-year-old. Thus, I really want this self-propelled suitcase that holds up to 70 lbs and scoots at up to 3 MPH.

We've seen it before, but now we have details. The electric motor engages when you tilt your suitcase between 15 and 35 degrees, transferring 85% of the weight onto the wheels and off of your arm. Each charge lasts 2 1/4 hours and can be taken up to 1 3/4 miles. Unfortunately, the $1,300 price tag means it's cheaper to rent a dude at $10 an hour for 130 hours to carry your suitcase for you than it is to buy one. [Hammacher via Random Good Stuff]

Proteus Motor Swims Through Bloodstream, Looks Pretty Much Like a Sperm

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

The tiny Proteus motor, at only 2.5 times the width of a human hair, is small enough to enter the bloodstream and perform duties previously requiring some surgical slice-and-dice.

Researchers at Australia's Monash University developed the tiny motor to minimalize the risk of certain, more invasive surgeries. After being injected into the bloodstream, it can carry a camera and other sensors to monitor a patient without the danger that cutting and sewing presents. To move, it uses a spinning tail that spirals at 1295 RPM, and uses piezoelectricity (which uses mechanical stress to create electrical potential) for energy.

Oh, and here's my required Fantastic Voyage reference: This bloodstream sperm motor is named for that movie I never saw! [GizMag]

Butt-Crack Detector: Plumbers Are So Hot These Days

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Instructables posted a guide to creating a plumbers'-crack detector, using a LilyPad Arduino controller, a vibrating motor, and a photoresistor to measure how much light is beaming into your crack. When the photoresistor comes uncovered, the motor starts to vibrate, letting you know that your "coin slot" is exposed and people behind you may be looking and/or laughing. After that, it's your choice: hike up those low-ride jeans, or give a little show? [Instructables, created by Amy Khoshbin]

Motor Home With Motorized Balcony as American as Apple Pie

Brian Lam — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:26:22 EDT

Country Coach's Veranda motor home has a motorized balcony that deploys in 20 seconds with optional BBQ and 37-inch TV. The marketing material insists you'll be reducing your "footprint on the environment" and suggests that it would be great to fish or play catch from without ever leaving the comfort of your abomination. [Country Coach via Gizmag]

Paper Stirling Engine Runs Off Hot Coffee

Mark Wilson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:45:38 EDT

This papercraft engine only needs to sit on a cup of hot coffee to drive its pistons. No, it's not the precious caffeine that drives the motion, but the Stirling engine design, in which the difference between alternating hot and cold gas pressure is harnessed for power.

Running for up to an hour on a boiling cup of coffee, the engine is said to work even better over cold surfaces, like ice. For $30, you get both a small piece of history and to make the world of paper your bitch. Not a bad deal at all. [product via boingboing]

Roller Blades of Death have Petrol Motor, No Brakes

AddyDugdale — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:40:56 EDT

Customs officers in Britain have seized 150 pairs of motorized roller blades, amid safety fears. The skates, known as Gasoline Skating Shoes, are fitted with a 25cc motor and have a top speed of 20mph. Since the skates are classed as a motorized vehicle, users would need a driving license, insurance and L-plates, were they legal. Check the video with its incongruous Prozac Muzak and discover their deadly secret below.

From China, these Foot Trolleys of Death are controlled via a handheld throttle and can burn up to max speed in just a few seconds. Instead of a brakes, there is a shut-off button (probably bright red with "SHIIIIIIIIT" inscribed on it in a nice Gothic script) which acts like an emergency stop—meaning that when the skates come to a brisk halt, you probably won't.

A 10-pound engine encased in a seven-inch box on the heel of the right boot sits above a plastic fuel tank—that will make for some interesting ankle burns in a worst-case scenario—which holds one liter of two-stroke petrol.
Because of its exhaust vent and starter cable, safety officers have likened the Fireball Suicide Shoes to a lawnmower. I can think of two uses for it: birthday presents for Paris, Lindsay and Avril Lavigne, and as a modding experiment—cutting the grass (and burning stubble if you live on a farm) will be so much more fun. [Daily Mail]

Motorized Lego Monster Dino

blongo3 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:00:03 EDT

The last time I played with Lego's my parents had to ask me what it was, since they couldn't even fathom a guess as to what I had created. If only I could have put together something as amazing as the motorized Lego Monster Dino. He walks, roars and definitely doesn't need an introduction.

And to make this guy even better, you can reconfigure him into a spider or even a crocodile. But you will need a butt-load of batteries (6AA, 3AAA), $89.95 and a bit of time to put together the 792 pieces.

But the real question is "how does it look when he's stomping around preparing his assault on the little Lego people?" Probably something like this

– Ben Longo

Lego Monster Dino [Wired]

Chainsaw-powered Motorcycle Cuts Through Highways

Louis Ramirez — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:46:27 EST

Ghost Rider was always my favorite super-hero. Not only was he invincible, but he also got to ride around on a flaming motorcycle. While this motorcycle doesn't sport any flames, it's about as close as you'll get to feeling invincible. Nicknamed the Dolmette, it uses 24 Dolmar chainsaw engines to propel you on the highway. Strap a chainsaw on the side and you can be your own spirit of vengeance. Until the cops arrest you of course. – Louis Ramirez

Chainsaw Powered Motorcycle [High T3ch Magazine]

Motorized House Always Turns to Bright Side

Louis Ramirez — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:10:11 EDT

We always start our day with a glorious view of the piss-stained alley next to us, but some clever contractor in Australia designed and built a motorized house that rotates to the view of your choice (assuming you have nice views to choose from). The house is made of glass and steel and has a max speed of 1 revolution every 30 minutes. You can program it to always face the sun, or if you're like us, to always face the homeless man who sleeps outside. There's only one of its kind at the moment, but plans are being made to construct more rotating houses. Clever idea if you're filthy rich.

Click on for more pics of the house you'll never live in. – Louis Ramirez

Rotating House [via GizMag]

Earthrace Boat: Carbon Trimaran Stabs Through Waves, Video

Brian Lam — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 19:47:16 EDT

The Earthrace boat isn't some Greenpeace sponsored, treehugging tug. No! It's a treehugging, carbon/Kevlar-hulled, 1080-Horsepower, 78 foot speedboat with a sharp bow meant to harpoon waves. Apparently, submarining through the crests of waves is a lot more efficient than going up and over them. And, as Wired reported, the boat ran a section of its circumnavigation off biofuel processed from the captain's ass fat. Really.

Video of the ass-powered boat slicing up waves, after the jump.– Brian Lam

Ass Powered Boat [Thanks, Brian Chiko ]
Ass Powered Boat [Wired]