More detailed pictures for 8295 and 8297

In the sequence of a comment to the previous post, and for those seeking for hidden details, here you have full detailed pics from the Telescopic Handler (8295) and the Off Roader (8297).

Click over each image to get the detailed resolution version

Nice Brick Wally hunt!... ;D

About the new Linear Actuar again

I've just got a new catalog, where some old images from the new 2H TECHNIC sets are available. So I can saw them with more detail.

I realized from the images bellow, where the Linear Actuator appears in two different setups, on something I saw before but always forgot to mention. It makes clear that the LA driving mechanism connection is made with an axle termination and not a U-joint as I initially imagined. :P
It turns obvious when you compare with the setup on the right, where a '12 Thoot Double Bevel' gear is in use.

Regarding the Off Roader (8297), it has written a sentence which translated means "Doors and Bonnet with hydraulic opening". It seems Ok and according to the images available for the doors, but I doubt it would be the case for the capot or even the rear door.

From the originally sized images, it is also clear that tires are in fact '94.8 x 44 R' sized, i.e. the same used at rear wheels from the 2006 'Tractor/Dune Buggy' (8284).

TBs TechPoll 03 (Results) - After the 1st six months... "Which direction should TBs take?"

Here are the results for TBs 3rd poll, where you expressed what do prefer to see (read) here, in the future.




Hope I will address the majority of your wishes. ;)
Thank you all, for your participation!

Week TechVideo, 2008 #19 - NXT Self Parking Car

This weekend I'm at a public exhibition from my LUG (PLUG) in Lourinhã (Portuguese capital of Dinosaurs and the center of one of the richest fossils areas of the late Jurassic age, in the entire world). Nevertheless managed to get a bit of time for a fast post, so the weekly TechVideo won't be missed... ;)

This video is certainly already widely known, but still one of my favorite concept implementations with NXT. A Self Parking Car (SPC) from cesky79, made with an unique ultrasonic sensor which rotates 360º.

This is and evolution of the same author, first SPC (see bellow). According to his description, thanks to the rotating ultrasonic sensor the car can park both sides, left or right, and uses it to avoid hitting cars when it parks. Although with two ultrasonic sensors the parking system would be easier and the car design would become nicer.

GBC at Fana'briques LEGO event

Yesterday I got a mail from Philo, challenging me. He wrote,

At the end of June, "Fana'briques" LEGO event will take place in Rosheim, east of France. During this event we will set up a Great Ball Contraption. There are already about 50 modules foreseen in the loop, but more would be great of course ;o) - so you or any of your readers is welcome to bring his modules (or just to watch!)

More details on Fana'briques: http://www.freelug.org/article.php3?id_article=706

And of course I immediately decided on passing you the challenge, to participate or try to be present too! ;)

As you see from the images above, it is an event organized by the French LUG (FreeLUG) and as you can find written at the event webpage, they aim to put together more than 100 GBC modules. Lets help them! ;)



So Philo gave me the right excuse to finally write here at TBs a few words about something, I was planning to do for a long time, but which I never done... Yes, GBC (Great Ball Contraption)!

I must confess some time ago, I had to go to the dictionary to find what the hell "contraption" means... "strange-looking machine or piece of equipment" as I found. It couldn't fit more perfectly! ;)
GBC is another idea developed by Steve Hassenplug and Brian Davis (I think to be correct, this statement) and to put it simple, the goal is to pass LEGO soccer balls from one module to the next. Each module can be as simple, or as complex as a builder wants.
Much like other AFOLs made with Moonbase and Classic Castle standards, GBC allows different people to build modules/sections that interact into a common display.

A few definitions to interface between modules and many other info, can be found here.
Also here, a few examples how the modules could interface, based on the defined rules.

Bellow a few video examples from GBC setups, to show what can be achieved with it.

First GBC setup from teamhassenplug on the left, and FreeLUG GBC setup during Legoworld 2005 on the right




BeLUG GBC setup at Lego World 2005




GBC setup at Brickworld 2007

If got interested and willing to try something like this, take also a look into Philo's GBC webpage, where you can see his creations. Bellow also somo photo examples.

Philo's individual GBC modules




The same GBC modules assembled together

Have fun!

Week TechVideo, 2008 #18 - Roller Coaster, 360º Roll

This week a video for a TECHNIC Roller Coaster implementation, with 360º roll.
It uses Power Functions parts.

From the same author another monorail Roller Coaster design, also based on the same PF elements.

TBs TechNugets 06 - How does it could have been...

During my incursions into LEGO patents at USPTO, I found another interesting 'Interlego AG' patent.

Hope I'm not taking a wrong conclusion, but see from the Patent Design D374.257, how the TECHNIC beam could have looked like. See more details an images from the excerpt bellow.

Toy building element Sten Schmidt et al

This was filed back in September 1994 and shows an 11L TECHNIC beam like, element (see here, its current counterpart).

It took almost 1 year till LEGO fills another patent, with the actual design for TECHNIC beams and liftarms.
See it bellow from the design of a 'TECHNIC Liftarm 1 x 9 Bent (6 - 4) Thick' (Patent Design D374.465) and compare how different, they are in the details.

Toy building element Sten Schmidt

Toy building element Sten Schmidt

Edit:

After a comment to this post, from Phil, I was found that patent above refers to a DUPLO part with reference 6525 and which name is "DUPLO Technic Beam 11"... :P
Somehow a TECHNIC part anyway. ;)

There is also a 7L version.
Parts like these, belong to 'Early Simple Machines' sets, which is like a TECHNIC for the Juniors.
Always learning...


Last Update: 2008.May.04 01:52 GMT

Week TechVideo, 2008 #17 - NXT Segway

Nothing fresh (posted on YouTube, over 1 year ago), but it is one of my favorite videos from a LEGO build (even the music fits just great). The NXT Segway implementation bellow.

It is a creation from Rich (richrobottoughts), which is in fact "just" a copy from Philo's own implementation (NXTway) described here (video also here, but somewhat boring, as Philo wrote...). Rich also wrote about his replica at his RobotThoughts blog.

However, the first time the Segway concept was implemented with LEGO, was done by Steve Hassenplug who have used at the time, an RCX programmed with BrickOS (LegOS) to build his LegWay. Read more about and find the program source code here.
Later on, a newer implementation (NXTway-G), was built by Ryo Watanabe, using a gyroscopic sensor. Later again, Ryo has modified it to use the HiTechnic NXT Gyro sensor. See it also in action bellow.

Steve Hassenplug's LegWay on the left and Ryo Watanabe's NXTway-G on the right.

For the most skilled and if you have some interest in the background mathematics, that made this possible, see the NXTway-G Motion Equation and take an overview about its behavior and how it was done!

If you have further interest about Segway and its working principles read all about, at HowStuffWorks.

Segway, a two wheeled auto balancing transporter, is an invention from Dean Kamen, who owns DEKA [1], [2]. DEKA is a small research company whose name is derived from Dean Kamen's name and which mission is to foster innovation. Dean is an inspired inventor with many other high impact inventions in the society with particular emphasis in medicine and auto balancing robots. Among them, you may find: iBOT [1, 2], AutoSyringe®, Luke Arm (presented before at TBs , here) and many other. And because Dean's life also crosses the path of our favorite hobby, in what concerns with LEGO, he is also the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) [1], [2]. An organization founded for developing ways to inspire young people in science, engineering and technology fields and lead them into innovation. FIRST organizes many well known competitions like: FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO League (aka FLL, maybe the best known among AFOL comunity) [1, 2], Junior FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge.

Because of his passionate commitment to FIRST, Dean was awarded with the LEGO Prize this April, by the hands of Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (Owner and Vice Cairman of LEGO). After 10 years leading FLL, from just a couple of hundred participants to more than 100,000!” says Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen. “We are particularly proud to be able to honor Dean Kamen for his personal and untiring commitment to child development and learning. Children learn best when new knowledge is presented in play form, and in founding FIRST, Dean has created an organization which – uniquely and through systematic, creative play – helps children and young people understand and appreciate science and technology. We say that the future belongs to our children, and Dean Kamen plays an immensely important role in creating a better future – harnessing the fantastic creativity and inventiveness that children and young people experience through involvement in FIRST programs.” “FIRST is inspiring the next generation of innovators and engineers,” said Kamen. “Years from now, some of the students who competed in the Georgia Dome will be inventing solutions to society's most challenging problems."

Is it a new part for 2H 2008 TECHNIC Sets !?

As it has been discussed today in several forums, between enthusiasts, a new TECHNIC part seems to have been found among the new sets for the 2nd half.

A new steering arm variant. Look at the photos bellow and if you realize into the details, it turns clear that this part has differences when compared to all its known predecessors.

(click to enlarge)

It doesn't seem to be, none of the illustrated bellow. Instead it looks like a shorter version of 32195b, with axle holes.

Steering Arm 6.5x2 with Towball Socket (on the left) and Steering Suspension Link with Arm (on the rigth)

The 'Steering Arm 6.5x2 with Towball Socket' illustrated above, had three small variations across the years (2738, 32195a and 32195b) which have been used in many sets (mainly supercars).
The part on the right shows more similarities with what we can see on the new images, but the ball joint doesn't seem very useful to connect with the actual 'Steering Gear' (x873c01) which is supposed to be found in the model, connecting the wheels to the suspension. Also the front part joining both side liftarms, doesn't fit what can be seen from the new 8297 B-model photos.

As a matter of curiosity, it seems also that "old" steering arms (the ones at left, from above) used for instance at Enzo 1:10 and Fiorano, are still used in the rear axle suspension arms of this B-model and presumably at the 8297 main model (Off Roader) too. So, it would mean a mix design in what concerns steering/suspension arms.

New images from 2H 2008 TECHNIC sets

New images for some 2nd half 2008 TECHNIC sets, appeared at someone's Brickshelf folder.
Among them, it seems we have images for the respective B-models. They look great! (At least the Off Roader partner does. For the Excavator it seems we got something a bit strange...)
See them bellow (click on images to enlarge),

8294 - Excavator

(B-model on top and different views of main model bellow)

8297 - Off Roader

(B-model views on top and different views of main model bellow)

Personally and from some data I got, by doing some simple calculations, I would expect prices in Europe for the new sets to be in the ranges bellow (I know for my country but assume they won't be identical across Europe, as usual):

• 8294: 45-50€
  
• 8295: 75-80€
  
• 8297: 110-120€

• 8293: 30-35€