coilgun
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Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video)
DIY weaponry gets more lethal with each passing year; where once we were content with a simple foam missile launcher, technology has progressed such that our automated turrets now spew screwdriver bits, airsoft and paintballs. As progress forges ahead, two engineering students at the University of Arkansas have added injury to insult with this four-stage DIY coilgun. Using an Arduino microcontroller to actuate the firing mechanism and steer the monstrous wooden frame, they nimbly control the badass kit with an iDevice over WiFi, and line up targets using a repurposed PlayStation Eye webcam. While we'd of course prefer to have our phone SSH into the gun over 3G, we're not going to argue with success. We'd like to keep our lungs un-perforated, thank you very much. See it in action after the break.
DIY coilgun gives clever hobbyists the risk of permanent injury
What's not to love about coilguns? They bring together electromagnetics and DIY-ing for what may be our favorite juvenile pastime: shooting things. The bad boy pictured above was put together by a Mr. Daniel Eindhoven for €100 (that's about $133). A semiautomatic single stage gun that boasts a 14 shot capacity, the weapon's capable of firing a 42 gram projectile at speeds up to 110km/h, with a charge time of 8 seconds when plugged into mains power (or if you're on the go, the internal batteries will light up in about 90 seconds). It also sports a digital voltage display and a laser pointer. Just as we predicted when we saw the Nerf chain gun, the inter-office arms race is definitely on. Be careful! One more pic after the break.
Wiimote + pens + coffee cup + office putting toy = deadly coil gun turret
Inside a mild-mannered toy golf cup, the kind that pop the ball back at you when you sink a putt (and make you go walk for it when you miss), lurks a lethal weapon -- a tiny rail gun just waiting to serve. Modder Jay took one of those induction coils to build himself a small but fierce turret, also using a little inspiration from the Serv O'Beer, an ioBridge module, two ballpoint pens, two wooden spoons, a coffee mug, and -- the pièce de résistance -- a Wiimote liberated from someone's console. By twisting the controller left or right the weapon rotates accordingly, honing in on threatening textbooks and launching a screwdriver bit with deadly force. Alas, you can't fire the turret by pressing a button on the controller, but that's said to be entirely for safety reasons -- we wouldn't want some poor kid trying to play a little My Horse & Me and accidentally shooting themselves in the back. Update: Jay commented to let us know that he's posted the source, meaning making your lethal weapon is that much easier -- and open! [Via Make]
CoilOsapien Robosapien mod explained
As promised when he first unveiled this formidable feat of miniature mayhem, Marcus of Evosapien.com has now provided a step-by-step guide for turning your own Robosapien into the most badass one on the block. While there seems to be less of a chance of complete disaster than the Flamosapien mod posed, you'll likely still want to be sure you know what you're doing before busting out the hot glue gun. Those with the necessary skills, however, should be able to follow along relatively easily, with all the necessary parts readily available and relatively inexpensive. Just remember to sleep with one eye open once you're done with it, ok?[Via Hack a Day]
CoilOsapien Robosapien mod impresses, terrifies
The Robosapien would seem to already be quite capable of defending itself, what with a flamethrower and all, but the folks at Evosapien.com don't seem to be willing to take any chances, upping the otherwise peace-loving bot's arsenal with a BB-shooting "coilgun" capable of taking out other toys all the way across the room. As the video after the break shows, the gun also comes complete with a laser sight to help guide those BBs to their target with deadly accuracy, as Gumby sadly found out first-hand. While we'll have to be content with enjoying it from afar for the time being, rest assured, the mad genius behind this weapon of miniature destruction is promising a complete tutorial for building your own shortly.[Thanks, Robert O.]
