DIYer crafts robotic flusher to save time, impress guests

If you're not exactly keen on dropping a substantial amount of dough in order to grab one of those snazzy Toto toilets that flush as you walk away, why not devise your own flusher that not only removes the need to stand around and hold the handle down for ten or so seconds, but also captures data on exactly how many times you visit the lavatory. Apparently, an artful fellow decided to do just that, and the resulting robotic flusher requires but one momentary press in order to successful flush any rigged toilet. And yes, the video (crank the volume!) is awaiting you after the break.

[Via MAKE]

[Mosey @ Jul 25th 2007 12:43AM]

Well that's interesting, Gurgle Analytics for a loo.

It's missing bling and neons.

[jimmybob @ Jul 25th 2007 12:46AM]

i've never used a toilet that took more than a second to flush

[Shaun MacLean @ Jul 25th 2007 12:48AM]

Same here. Weird.

[chaosrain @ Jul 25th 2007 1:21AM]

Actually, many basement toilets require that you hold the lever for a "complete" flush. I think it's due to the fact that gravity does not assist a basement toilet in the same way it does an above-ground loo.

[Alvin @ Jul 25th 2007 1:23AM]

Have you ever used an old toilet? Many times the flush valve will fail to stay open long enough for the bowl siphon to carry the waste water out, unless you manually hold it open (i.e. flush the handle) for at least two seconds.

[John Doe @ Jul 25th 2007 1:44AM]

Ditto. 2-5 seconds to flush and for those who say ewwww. You are touching the handle that everyone else is touching to flush.
You should be washing your hands after to hit the can you disease carrying sicko. :-P ;-)

[John Doe @ Jul 25th 2007 1:50AM]

Alvin,

I've used toilets from the 1950's from the looks of it. These toilets still take about 2-5 seconds to flush once the water drops to a level where the floater can...well float. Again nowhere near the 10 seconds or so suggested by the article. But lets be honest here. Its a blog. Which was probably written in aprox the same amount of time it takes to flush a faulty toilet, so I'm not suprised that there are exaggerations in it. Engadget's bloggers have a solid history of pulling stuff out of....thin air for their posts. *shrugs* Whatever.

[David @ Jul 25th 2007 12:51AM]

Nice... With the matches...

[mike @ Jul 25th 2007 1:00AM]

I think you need your toilet replaced or something because a normal toilet should flush instantly when you press the handle down, not make you hold it in, let alone for 10 seconds.

[Raz 4 life @ Jul 25th 2007 1:10AM]

Pressing the button looks harder than pressing down on the handle for 1/4 of a second.

[John @ Jul 25th 2007 1:18AM]

Poop Away

[emjoi @ Jul 25th 2007 1:35AM]

I just want to say that I also own one of those translucent, blue-loo colored toilet seats with the embedded fish.

He's a man of style and taste.

thankyou for listening.

[AlexP @ Jul 25th 2007 1:57AM]

Sensor-enabled toilets are much more effective.

[Tavis Veighey @ Jul 25th 2007 2:21AM]

They could have put a motion sensor on it. wave your hand over it and then it flushes. That would also be more sanitary.

[Alexander @ Jul 25th 2007 2:55AM]

I live in Stockholm and the lights, sink, and toilet (made by Ifö) in my bathroom all operate by motion sensors. And they look a hell of a lot better than this.

[AlexP @ Jul 25th 2007 2:57AM]

Most decent restaurants are equipped with those, even public high schools (here).

[Revrant2394 @ Jul 25th 2007 2:07AM]

Oh the possibilities...Surprise! Robotic Bidet!

[Mike @ Jul 25th 2007 5:21AM]

Surprised no one has come up with a half-witted "blue flush of death" comment...

We must all be slipping.

[Salsa Shark @ Jul 25th 2007 9:46AM]

I prefer the brown ring of death.

[Albert van Breemen @ Jul 25th 2007 9:13AM]

What is the next step, a mobile toilet that comes to you an request?

Albert
---
visit http://www.personalrobotics.nl for exciting robot news!

[Pinkerton @ Jul 25th 2007 8:32PM]

Three guys are peeing in a row of urinals.

First guy zips up, flushes, and proclaims, "I went to Stanford business school", hits the soap dispenser, washes his hands, and primps his hair.

Second guy zips up, flushes, and proclaims, "I went to the University of Michigan medical school", hits the soap dispenser three times and washes up to his elbows.

Third guy zips up, flushes, walks past the other two, and proclaims "I never went to no college, but my daddy taught me to not to pee on my hands, to flush a toilet with my foot, and to flush a urinal with my elbow".

[Mike @ Jul 25th 2007 9:28PM]

Q: Whats wet, brown and travels faster than light?

A: Captains Log...


Its an oldie, but its the best tech/poo joke i could think of at short notice.