Category: Maker Projects
-
Planes for First Person View
By putting a camera and transmitter on the front of a RC plane, you’re able to fly First Person View (FPV). That means you’re flying by look through a small TV on the ground. Rachel is holding a modified Bixler (a great plane for this): I took one on our trip to Indonesia. It always attracted…
-
Seth the ROV
I built a small underwater robot that I can drive from the surface using a video screen. It can go about 100 ft down, and has enough thrust that it can move around pretty comfortably in weak currents. For example, here’s a video of crabs fighting over the bait in a crab pot (the owner…
-
Productivity and Organization
As I’ve accumulated tools and parts, my workshop has grown more complex. Having a well-designed workspace is an interesting intellectual challenge, and I’ve enjoyed evolving my workshop to handle diverse projects. This is the current iteration: In fine cooking, there is a concept of “mise en place” where the chef assembles the ingredients beforehand and thinks…
-
Beekeeping and Technology
I was very fortunate to assist a beekeeper when I was living in New York. There was even an article about our endeavors: http://www.livescience.com/38198-urban-beekeeping-takes-flight.html Since they’re social insects, bees are very interesting to me. They follow algorithms very strictly, and if you know the rules you will be able to work with them very well….
-
Kite Aerial Photography
I’ve also mounted a GoPro system on special rigging that hangs from a kite. The camera rig has a transmitter and servos, so I’m able to watch video through a small screen on the ground, and also change directions. There are various pro/cons compared with mounting the camera on a RC plane: Pro: Con: Here’s the…
-
Recommended Reading
Data Science: Hiring: Productivity: Product Management Management, Leadership, and Culture:
-
Model Boatbuilding
Although I’ve built a number of model planes (which were mostly foam), I was curious to expand my horizons and try to build a model boat. Surprisingly, the model boat community involves more copyrights than other building communities I’ve experienced, and you therefore need to pay for many plans. I was also surprised by…
-
The Surprising Joys of Basket Weaving
I was looking for a hobby that allowed me to meet my Maker interests while balancing the lifestyle that comes with young kids. Although “underwater basket-weaving” is a term of derision, I discovered regular basket weaving is a great hobby for the following reasons: Pinterest has a lot of great ideas, but I was really impressed…
-
RC Sailboat
Finding a flying field is difficult in many areas. I also wanted to learn more about sailing. I therefore started to explore RC sailboat options. I was really surprised at the lack of community and plans. After much searching, this was the best option for a new builder. There are lots of other plans if…