CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it

If you're into real life bunny wabbits and other such wildlife, but not a fan of the cold, wet and windy outdoors, what do you do? We'd say just boot up the console and shoot you some pixelated peoples, but Steve Norris' idea might be just a tad more practical. He has authored the above mobile snap-station, which is equipped with an infrared video camera, a Nikon DSLR, and pairs of motors, 10Ah batteries, and solar panels. Power flows from the latter into the former to turn wildlife stalking into a pleasurable pastime for even the most indoorsy of folks. Video demonstration of the hardware after the break.

See more video at our hub!

[Outsider Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:17AM]

Ah engineers.... their greatest motivation to get out of their chair is either to eat, or to go to the bathroom.

[LIve2Lin Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:22AM]

@Outsider: You forgot one: They have to see weird scifi movies at launch...

[dustandechoes91 Posted Dec 14th 2009 9:00AM]

@Outsider

I cant decide whether to upvote or downvote this. Its somewhat insulting but then I look back at my day and notice how true that is.

[Art Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:45AM]

In other news, a man was today accused of harbouring an alien probe that was sent to Earth to explore the landscape and take photographs, after the probe was captured whilst chasing some rabbits across a field. A spokesman from NASA said "Dammit, we wish it was this easy to build a probe for Mars!".

[Ryan Trevisol Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:01AM]

I can see an application for this for night-time garden security, and to find out if it's really the neighborhood dog digging through your trash, or if it's your out of work neighbor, or worse, the NSA.

[gonintendo Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:14AM]

Before I read the article, I thought that that thing ate bunny rabbits.

[barCODE Posted Dec 15th 2009 4:03AM]

@gonintendo

It needs a gun.

[bigcow05 Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:45AM]

The ultimate lolcat capture device.

[ThrillBill Posted Dec 14th 2009 10:00AM]

This was obviously invented by someone with too much time on their hands. It is typical of what happens to humans when they don't have to worry about food and a roof over their heads any longer!

[SergioAM Posted Dec 14th 2009 10:30AM]

i watched the entire video in hopes to witness something cool...but it just...drove around ._.

[DavidT Posted Dec 14th 2009 11:56AM]

Aw, bunny.

[jwmaag Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:10PM]

Why isn't there a gun on this?
Seems like a logical progression to me.

[southern78 Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:12PM]

nice cooler

[pdajunkee Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:31PM]

Nice! What an easy way to score a free Nikon DSLR and a infrared video camera!

[Samurai Jack Posted Dec 14th 2009 2:11PM]

Hmm... a primitive MALP. You never know what you'll see when you step through the 'gate. As for that foul beastie nibbling the grass... that rrrrabbit is dynamite!

[Kalian Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:46PM]

So... does this thing actually take pictures? For all we know it could be a modified tyco RC with an IR LED and a DSLR glued to it.

[frizbplaya Posted Dec 14th 2009 6:07PM]

It's all fun and games until you accidentally catch a senator being murdered. Suddenly Seth Green and Jack Black are after you...