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Black and Decker screwdriver senses your hand movement to adjust speed, direction (video)
Were you feeling the need for new tech to replace the switches that control direction and speed on your cordless screwdriver? Us neither, but we're not the braintrust at Black & Decker, which just launched the Gyro 4V Max, the "world's first motion-activated screwdriver." The company put an InvenSense MEMS gyroscope in the new model, so all you have to do to change the direction or speed is rotate your drilling hand one way or the other in varying amounts. After you've polished off that Ikea shelf, it should be ready the next time you haul it out of the toolbox, with a Lithium-ion battery that stays juiced for as long as 18 months. Judging by the video below the break, it actually looks pretty clever, and at $40, why not start dragging your tools out of the stone age?
EX trike powered by dual electric screwdrivers, designed by eccentrics
We've seen some pretty wild-looking means of transportation in our day -- the FOF-inducing BMW Flymag concept and Airbike 3D-printed nylon bicycle, for example -- and now comes a vehicle that practically defies description: the EX. In what can only be described as over-engineering run amok, this custom-built three-wheeler is powered by two electric screwdrivers and can hurtle one brave soul headfirst down the road at speeds up to 30km/h (almost 19mph for those using real units of measure). The joint connecting the front and rear portions of the frame lets riders steer with "organically floating movement" that leans the driver into every turn -- hopefully the handling is a bit more predictable than the trike's design. So, if you're lining up to buy one in a parallel universe, there's just one question left to answer... Philips or flat-head?
Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver is still fiction -- but not forever
Kudos to Bristol University for catching our attention, and doing so in the name of promoting education. Professor of Ultrasonics Bruce Drinkwater is evoking a rather iconic name to better explain how cool science / engineering can be. Though already used in the manufacturing and medical fields -- don't yawn and look away just yet -- Drinkwater expresses some confidence that the future of this technology could very well usher in a pocketable device similar to the sonic screwdriver fancied by a certain former resident of Gallifrey. You know, that do-it-all device that can repair electronic equipment, burn and cut items, fuse metals, scan for information, and render virtually any lock useless... except here we're focusing on ultrasonic sound waves capable of fixing parts together and creating miniature force fields. As for the Time Lord himself, we know of at least one past Doctor who, as joked by a later incarnation, would rather "save the universe using a kettle and some string" (and has, in more recent iterations, pulled out miraculous victories with even a BlackBerry Storm). Point is, you should maybe consider a degree in Physics and an eccentric outfit should you ever find yourself holding a working prototype.
Ask Engadget: best screwdriver kit for DIY computer work?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Calvin, who needs a replacement for his recently broken Switztool 6-piece screwdriver kit. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've always used a Switztool 6-piece screwdriver for my computer work. I love how it retracts all the bits into the screwdriver. But it just bit the dust after a very heavy fall. Just want to know from other fellow readers: what's the best screwdriver (or kit) out there for DIY computer work and electronics hacking?" Quite an interesting question, indeed. We'd probably recommend a kit with a 00-sized Philips screwdriver for getting those laptop bolts out from the casing, but desktop-specific ones are certainly allowed. And... go!
Custom Robo Arena keychain screwdriver
Nintendo has made it a point to package the games it sends out for review with a creative gift. Several gaming publications received their copies of Custom Robo Arena today, and were pleased to find their parcels padded with a relevant bonus: a branded keychain that transforms into a set of screwdrivers. Custom Robo Arena lets you customize futuristic robot frames and send them out to holographic arenas for tournament battles. You will be able to upgrade and combine parts for your robot gladiators just like in the original GameCube game. That's where the handy screwdriver comes in! Custom Robo Arena hits stores early next week, so expect to see reviews for the game soon.
