Gizmodo: technic

Theophile Lego Technic "Walking Machine" Slowly, Inevitably Invades My Nightmares

Jack Loftus — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT

If I didn't really, really love Lego and Technic, like many of the staff here at Gizmodo, I might very well be running in terror at the sight of this eight-legged, Theo Jansen-inspired monstrosity. It barely makes a sound as it claws its way across the floor, aside from the slight hiss of the motor that drives this thing inexorably into my nightmares. Oh, and on a related note, Theo Jansen made a sick BMW commercial back in the day that certainly served as inspiration for this Lego arachnid.

[The Brothers Brick]

Gigantic LEGO Tomcat F-14 Ready to Take Off

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:26:00 EDT

We have seen some amazing LEGO aircrafts in the past, but this F-14 Tomcat has to be the most awesome LEGO plane to date. In fact, it's so technically complex—most parts, including cannons, swing wings, landing gears, brakes, flaps, air intake doors, are electric and pneumatically controlled—that builder Jeroen Ottens got a dream job in Denmark as a Technic designer. Looking at the list of features, we are not surprised:

• Electric controlled
• Canopy
• Cannon
• Swing wings
• Landing gear
• Landing gear bay doors
• Steering of front wheel
• 2 Engines
• Pneumatic compressor
• Pneumatically controlled
• Brakes (main fuselage+wings)
• Arrester hook
• Flaps (front & aft on main wings)
• Glove vanes
• Air Intake Control System doors
• Main landing gear lock
• Manual controlled
• Vertical flaps
• Differentially controlled stabilators
• Air fuel intake nozzle
• Ejection seats

It may not fly like the A-10 RC model, but Jeroen's creation is equally as impressive on its own right. [Flickr via Brothers Brick]

Lego Knitting Machines: What's Next? The Matrix?

gizmodo.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:47:31 EST

Here's a tight piece of Lego machinery, a machine that knits stuff. It'll knit you a scarf, some knickers, or anything it damn well pleases. Made by Tom Johnson, the knitting machine is based on the Lego Technic sets. It works a bit slowly, but that adds an even creepier robotic, Matrix-esque feel to it. Almost as if it's going to attack you. To understand me in full, watch this video to get a better idea of how it works. The results it produced look spectacular for a little robot who knits stuff. Take that, Gramma.

Tom Johnson's Working Technic Knitting Machine [NextBrick]
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