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ThinkGeek and Aperture Science do what they must, intro more Portal-themed goods because they can

Joe Pollicino — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 07:14:00 EST

Been yearning for more Portal 2-inspired goods from ThinkGeek? Fret not, dear test subject, the company's got some products ways that should satiate your desire for Cave Johnson-approved chachkas. Newly up for grabs are a $15 Aperture Science shower curtain, a $35 motion-sensing plush turret and a $40 Cave Johnson talking portrait -- think Billy Bass, but with a Portal twist. ThinkGeek's also announced a $30 Companion Cube cookie jar (the perfect companion for its Portal cookie cutters) and a $30 PotatOS Science Kit, complete with an insult-spewing "talking GLaDOS module." Sadly, the latter duo don't have an official release date just yet, and are merely listed as "coming soon." Of course, like the cake, they could just be lie. For the sake of science, portal past the break to find a press release with more details.

Continue reading ThinkGeek and Aperture Science do what they must, intro more Portal-themed goods because they can

ThinkGeek and Aperture Science do what they must, intro more Portal-themed goods because they can originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boeing and BAE partner to put a laser on a machine gun, make the world a better place

Tim Stevens — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST

Automated, computer-targeting machine guns are okay in a pinch, but sometimes putting 180 25mm slugs down range every minute just isn't enough. Sometimes you need a little more energy, and that's when you strap a laser on the thing. Boeing and BAE are partnering up to take the existing Mk 38 Mod 2 Machine Gun System, which offers a 25mm M242 barrel, and pair it with Boeing's directed energy system. The resulting beautiful machine is called the Mk 38 Mod 2 Tactical Laser System, offering the ability to fling both hot metal and even hotter photons against whatever targets would dare come in range. This integration is said to allow for these upgraded turrets to be easily installed and controlled on our naval vessels, vessels that are, for now, still stuck on the water. Apparently we're still a few years away from the Wave Motion Engine and FTL battleship travel.

Continue reading Boeing and BAE partner to put a laser on a machine gun, make the world a better place

Boeing and BAE partner to put a laser on a machine gun, make the world a better place originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust

Vlad Savov — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST

You might not remember Ryan Palser by name, but you'll surely recall the good gent's homemade Fallout 3 plasma rifle. He has since stepped his game up to bigger and badder video game weapon replicas, and has just completed the construction of the first of his forthcoming army of Portal laser turrets. Thankfully, Ryan has been sporting enough to build the older version of these human eviscerators (not the upgraded Portal 2 turrets, phew!), giving us at least a small chance of survival -- provided we have the right gear, of course. See the laser-equipped, GLaDOS-approved, 38-inch tall turret next to its maker after the break, or hit up the source link for some gorgeous photos of its construction.

Continue reading Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust

Portal turret replica has real laser, insatiable bloodlust originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)

Sean Hollister — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST

Weta Workshop is filled with engineers, and that means they solve problems. Practical problems. For instance, how Valve Software is going to keep its throng of Team Fortress 2 players in awe. The answer? Use a gun. Like this heavy-caliber, tripod-mounted, fastidiously crafted life-size reproduction of The Engineer's level 1 Sentry Gun, which features a bona fide motion sensor for tracking whosoever is fool enough to venture into Valve's geektastic lobby in Bellevue, Washington and touch the darn thing. We're ready to volunteer. Video after the break.

Continue reading Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)

Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infrared Nerf autocannon hunts predators, little sisters too (video)

Tim Stevens — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:43:00 EST

When it comes to keeping unwanted personnel out of your property, whether that be an estate or an alcove, you can't be expected to hang around holding the big guns all day long. That's when you need an automatic-targeting turret, and Rick Prescott's Infrared Seeking Sentinel is a good, non-lethal choice. Built on a Nerf Vulcan EBF-25, he added an infrared tracker, motor, and battery pack to make the thing autonomous, capable of firing in semi- or full-auto modes. He's posted full instructions on how to make your own, and his effort won him the Make Gadget Freak Design Contest. It also won him something else: our admiration. Full explanation and demonstration after the break.

Continue reading Infrared Nerf autocannon hunts predators, little sisters too (video)

Infrared Nerf autocannon hunts predators, little sisters too (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video)

Sean Hollister — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:37:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video)

Students accelerate cubicle arms race with PlayStation Eye-tracked, iPhone-guided coilgun (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EATR robots are coming, this isn't funny anymore

Vlad Savov — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:02:00 EST

Oh sure, we joke about rogue AI all the time, and we're aware that we'll probably pollute ourselves to death well before the robots get us, but who really thinks flesh-eating machines are a good idea? The (patently evil) scientists behind the EATR project -- no fair, they're making their own jokes now too -- have reached a new milestone in the development of the reconnaissance bot, successfully coupling a steam generator with a compact biomass furnace. It is now therefore possible for an autonomous machine to forage for and refuel itself with biomatter, otherwise known as soft, pulsating, yummy humans. They call it fuel versatility, as gasoline, diesel, and solar power may also be used if available, yet we'll offer no prizes for predicting which energy source these chainsaw-equipped robots will prefer.

[Via Switched]

Filed under: Robots

EATR robots are coming, this isn't funny anymore originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY Paintball Turret unleashes wireless havoc at 34 rounds per second

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:14:00 EST

The appeal of the Paintball Turret can pretty much be summed up in its inventor's own words: "It shoots things." What grabbed our attention, though, is just how sophisticated the contraption appears to be. Two years in development, Jared Bouck's turret fires 34 balls per second (per second!) and is designed to be carried as a backpack for rapid deployment. Invent Geek also claims that it can be controlled via heads-up display from up to half a mile away. Full plans and a material list are promised as is a video demonstration. Until then, you'll have to make due with the detailed assembly history just beyond the read link. This could change paint warfare and the tactics used by curmudgeonly neighbors to protect their lawns, forever.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless

DIY Paintball Turret unleashes wireless havoc at 34 rounds per second originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto-aiming USB missile launcher makes good use of your Wiimote

Darren Murph — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:33:00 EST

It's tough for us to go six months without a newfangled approach to hacking the famed USB missile launcher, so it's with great joy that we present to you this particular one. By utilizing a spare Wiimote, a USB-enabled PC, a USB missile launcher, a few strips of duct tape and a minor amount of programming knowledge, you too can craft an auto-aiming launcher which can find, aim at and attack IR targets. Grab the aforementioned items and hit the read link, just take care to not poke your eye out, alright?

[Via HackNMod, thanks Joe]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Auto-aiming USB missile launcher makes good use of your Wiimote originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EMT Paintball Sentry Turret renders your personal militia useless

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:22:00 EST

Automated paintball machines have been spotted holding down a-many of forts, but it's still been relatively hard to find one pre-built and ready for purchase. Enter Evolution Model Technology, whose Paintball Sentry Turret is mighty enough to mow down even the deepest of crosstown rival cliques trying to get up in your area. Arriving in wired and wireless versions, the unit is available with water- or winter-proof armor, can be controlled remotely and features a head that rotates 350-degrees and tilts 90-degrees. Best of all, the cold blooded plastering machine can be customized to the hilt for those living in seriously dodgy locales, but considering the $1,399.50 (and way, way up) price tag, you better have one incredible stash of valuables to protect before pulling the proverbial trigger.

[Via technabob]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

EMT Paintball Sentry Turret renders your personal militia useless originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autonomous, laser-guided turret takes aim

Darren Murph — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:26:00 EST

The homegrown home security options out there just keep getting sweeter and sweeter, as yet another go-getter has conjured up an autonomous turret to hold down the fort while the owners are away buying more capacitors and Fruit by the Foot. The programmable weapon relies on an 8 servo serial controller and a s666n High Torque servo motor, not to mention a good bit of programming to get things in working order. What started out as a curious ambition has now developed into quite a serious project, as the creator is hoping to "develop a weapons platform for the Defcon Bots competition," and judging by what we see here, things are lookin' up. The robotic sentry can apparently take out targets on its own or follow a simple laser to targets and fire away, but alas, what good would a made from scratch robotic piece of artillery be without a video to demonstrate? Click on through to see the firepower.

Filed under: Robots

Autonomous, laser-guided turret takes aim originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB BB gun sports barrel-mounted webcam, ensures home security

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:25:00 EST

While there's certainly a variety of options to keep watch and protect your property from curious intruders, the latest branch of vCrib gives a new meaning to being on guard. Crafted by the designer of the Virtual Crib home automation software, the USB BB gun sports automatic firing, manual reloading, and the ability to fire based on commands given remotely on a PC. Moreover, the weapon actually packs a webcam on the barrel, allowing users to login via computer, tilt / swivel the gun with simple mouse flicks, and fire away if you spot any intruders within its broad line of sight. It shouldn't need mentioning that we'd make absolutely sure our landlord was cool with mounting a remotely-controlled weapon in the window, but if you need to take home security into your own hands (without actually being at home), be sure to click on through to see this controversial creation spittin' hot fury.

Continue reading USB BB gun sports barrel-mounted webcam, ensures home security

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household

USB BB gun sports barrel-mounted webcam, ensures home security originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AirSoft Project 2.0 touts four times the firepower

Darren Murph — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:45:00 EST

As if having your own USB-controlled turret wasn't lethal enough, the creator of the original has now completed AirSoft Project 2.0, gracing us with a bigger, meaner, and more potent weapon to mow down office mates and erratic offspring alike. By utilizing similar parts as before, but adding a radio-controlled option, laser, and quadrupling the firepower, this mechanical sentry most certainly brings the pain, and can reportedly pump out 1,500 rounds per minute for when things get really rough in the trenches. While its inventor claims that everything can be assembled in just 10 hours, and rates the project difficultly at a mere "amateur" level, we'd still recommend only the veterans in the house even give this one a go, but considering the "$150 to $250" it'll cost you just in parts, let alone the C++ / Javascript coding that you'll be doing behind the scenes, we doubt too many privates will get involved anyway. Mr. Bouck did note that upon completion, he realized that hooking it up with both USB and RC controls might have been overkill, and recommends that any copycats utilize just one method or the other. So if you're all amped from the recent Jack Bauer power hours, and you're eager to get started on this ruthless mission, be sure to hit the read link for the full breakdown -- but only after you click on through for a quick briefing video first.

[Thanks, Tom]

Continue reading AirSoft Project 2.0 touts four times the firepower

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

AirSoft Project 2.0 touts four times the firepower originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB AirSoft turret mows down unsuspecting office mates

Darren Murph — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:15:00 EST

Where else but the good ole US of A would we revel in crafting items that not only utilized that oh-so-lonely USB port on the rear of your leased laptop, but had the potential to "deliver welts" to unsuspecting co-workers? While the pre-packaged USB missile launchers are quite the novel desk adornment, this DIY job seriously brings the heat (and the pain). While the modder responsible here envisions a more robust, costly, and dangerous version in the future, his 1.0 edition features a $19 electronic AirSoft gun, the turret base from an aforementioned USB missile launcher, super glue, and the usual compliment of assembly tools. After disassembling the launcher and tapping into its base, a bit of fancy wire work is required to affix the more powerful AirSoft gun to the rotating turret. A few more screws and finagling, and you're all set to demolish the fun at your annual holiday bash, all for just around $70 and a few hours of your time. So if you couldn't handle boot camp, but still have a passion for mechanical sentries, be sure to hit the read link for the full skinny.

[Via HackADay]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

USB AirSoft turret mows down unsuspecting office mates originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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