Video: Wii Nunchuk controls motorized Beancat chair

Nintendo's Wiimote (and the Nunchuk, by extension) have certainly been wired up to control their fair share of oddities, but we honestly can't think of a more suitable use for a spare 'chuk than this right here. The so-called Beancat is nothing more than a motorized beanbag chair that takes direction from a wired Nunchuk, and while we can't exactly speak from experience, it certainly looks thrilling from afar. Have a glance yourself just past the break, and tap the read link if you're eager to see how it all came together.

[Via MAKE]

[PuBeLeSs @ Jun 7th 2009 8:03PM]

beancat?

[Piro @ Jun 7th 2009 8:10PM]

Since Beancat is capitalized, maybe it's a brand?

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jun 7th 2009 11:07PM]

Maybe it's got a caterpillar drive . . . a new propulsion system that renders it undetectable to sonar.

[ravicai @ Jun 8th 2009 12:18AM]

This is why the minimum driving age is 16, and that's just for a permit.

[EYEPOPER @ Jun 7th 2009 8:58PM]

That is Coooll!!! Nice Job!!
Now we must think what we can do with that thing....Should be a good thing for people that cant walk..much easier to navigate

[Link2877 @ Jun 7th 2009 8:10PM]

Do you actually use the accelerometer or just the joystick? But still that's pretty awesome, it kind of looks like the chairs form Wall-E.

[BSprague @ Jun 7th 2009 8:11PM]

On Ebay in 3, 2...

In all seriousness, this thing looks like a blast, now all it needs is a V8.

[floydpink7 @ Jun 7th 2009 8:55PM]

*donk* Shoulda had a V8...

[GnuGeek @ Jun 7th 2009 8:14PM]

looks really lame on streets

[Michael @ Jun 7th 2009 8:15PM]

how did they do it?

[grull27 @ Jun 7th 2009 8:27PM]

Virgin Alert

[Darkroom @ Jun 7th 2009 8:31PM]

not after he nails your sloppy mom like the rest of us

[lanejasper69 @ Jun 7th 2009 8:33PM]

The early 90's called....

[MeowR- @ Jun 7th 2009 8:28PM]

Oh my god. I don't have to walk anymore?

*sold*

/wishesthatthesecouldsomehowmakeitupthestairs

[pika2000 @ Jun 7th 2009 8:35PM]

That's awesome, but can we see a person that can actually steer it?

[Nelagster @ Jun 7th 2009 8:36PM]

wow this will turn America's youth into buckets of lard

[Jason @ Jun 7th 2009 8:42PM]

Like most aren't already?

[Nelagster @ Jun 7th 2009 8:43PM]

well it will accelerate the process

[Lando Calrissian @ Jun 7th 2009 8:38PM]

Wow the second kid looks like he is having absolutely no fun at all.

[Ethan @ Jun 7th 2009 11:21PM]

He doesn't know how lucky he is to be on a magic orange chair.

[Gi @ Jun 7th 2009 8:51PM]

that 2nd kid doesn't look too enthused

[Rakar @ Jun 7th 2009 9:03PM]

That kid seems really excited by it

[something clever @ Jun 7th 2009 10:25PM]

This will revolutionize personal transport.

Cities will be built around this amazing device!

Well, probably not. Possibly college dorms though.

Ok, maybe just individual dorm rooms.

At least until al gore blames global warming on motorized beancat chairs.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jun 7th 2009 11:05PM]

No more getting up to get a beer from the fridge, so that's something.

[BigD145 @ Jun 7th 2009 10:28PM]

That's some serious skater hair on the second kid.

[thedankone @ Jun 7th 2009 10:45PM]

From the guy pictured above and the fact that is a fucking beanbag I am lead to believe this thing runs on Hemp Oil and half eaten veggie burritos.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jun 7th 2009 11:12PM]

You put your WEED in it, MAAANNN ! ! !

[Stevo32792 @ Jun 7th 2009 11:35PM]

It looks like the only thing it can do is go backwards and turn right... I'd expect a few more control out of it, especially with all the info one of those Nunchuks can put out...

[Ed Wood @ Jun 8th 2009 1:07AM]

As one of the two co-creators of the Beancat, I can offer a few answers. The name was simply a play on the Caterpillar brand, since the steering is similar to that of many small landscaping vehicles. It turns by speeding up one side of the drive as opposed to having a steering linkage and mechanism.

It does actually steer nicely, when fully operational. The reason the videos are all so loopy is such: The wheels are driven by motors geared down with sprockets. We actually busted a chain on the second day (it usually sees much more abusive riders- i.e. adults who may or may not have been drinking) and so the thing was actually only driving in circles. The kids didn't care, though, so we just let them keep going until the batteries gave out. Unfortunately the only video that seems ti be around is from day 2...

The accelerometer is not used in this version- the next one will. We actually think it would be really fun(ny) to use the wii steering wheel, so that it is completely wireless.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jun 8th 2009 8:16AM]

Are you the guy in the picture?

[Andrew Murphy @ Jun 8th 2009 11:16AM]

Ed is that guy in the picture. If anybody likes this kind of stuff and would like to build something similar or completely different check out Monkey Wrench Design: http://www.mwdes.com. The bean bag chair was the the first project created at Monkey Wrench Design, and we're working on a ton of other fun stuff.