Thanks for a fantastic year! The start of a new one is just around the bend. Since everyone will be watching the clock in the next few hours, here are some clocks that are probably more interesting that the ones you will be watching tonight.

Robots may take over the world some day but before they do they better learn to hang on when performing on the Horizontal bar. Make sure you watch the 3rd video, it demonstrates the creature that is developing the technology (or it could be just a shy geek).

Via: Adafruit Blog

If a small pipe CNC machine can be made why not scale it up and make a huge one. I have never seen a large CNC machine made with this configuration. I am real curious to see what it is like when bluefacedthief completes it.

Gadget Gangster has been cranking out the new products. Here is a 3 axis accelerometer board with Gyro capability that looks like lots of fun.

“The Acc_Gyro Board represents a 5DOF Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), capable of measuring acceleration on all 3-axis as well as measuring rotation rate around the X and Y axis. Combining values from both accelerometer and gyroscope will allow you to obtain accurate values of inclination angles relative to the earth’s surface. IMU units are often used in projects like gaming devices, balancing robots and UAV.

The Acc_Gyro board combines the LIS331AL (datasheet) – a 3-axis 2G accelerometer and LPR550AL (datasheet) – a dual-axis pitch and roll, 500deg/second gyroscope. The Accel_Gyro also features a 3.3V voltage regulator, so it can be powered with power sources in range of 3.3V to 7V. The onboard low-pass filters ensure a cleaner signal, while the high pass filters compensates for gyro drift normally associated with this type of devices.”

Going solar doesn’t mean shelling out thousands of dollars, this DIY Solar Install is an example where Dave from Plastibots spent a little more than $200 to get a start in solar power. Lots of people think that to get into the game you need to go all out, here is an example where you can test the water on the cheap. I have been thinking of doing something similar using wind power, however the power of my procrastination is also a potent resource.

“Project Materials (all prices in CAD):

• 12V 12Amp Hour Lead Acid Sealed Battery: $50
• Sea Sense Marine Battery Box: $20
• Solar Charge Controller: $32
• 10 Watt Solar Cell:  $55
• 75 Watt Inverter: $10
• Various Connectors/Nuts/Bolts/Other materials: $20
• Wire Line (40ft): $30
• PVC Piping: $10″

Robby Connor, Richard Evan Cross and Zach Rasmor made a cool Automatic Wireless Drink Mixer for their University of Washington Electrical Engineering embedded systems ee478 class. Do you recognize that display they are using? Yes it is made by 4dsystems who sponsored one of our recent contests!

Via: TechEBlog

“Automatic drink mixer features:
-Remote touch screen allowing users to pick from preset drinks or customize their own. Touch screen donated by 4DSystems (www.4dsystems.com.au)
-Remote interface sends drink selection via wireless to the main controller (Microchip PIC32).
-Local LCD touch screen allowing users to scroll through preset drink options and select a drink.
-Infrared cup sensor that detects if a cup is in the fixture. Liquid will only dispense if a cup is present.
-RFID sensor that detects if an RFID cup is in the fixture. If so, it remembers the last drink that the cup ordered. If it sees the cup again, the local LCD will jump to the last drink selected.
-Drink valves are turned by servo motors
-Windows GUI that allows the user to change the available liquids and add new preset drinks (not shown)”

Dave Fletcher from Fletchtronics.net will be building 10 Bumble-Bs per day over the next 10 days. He will be sharing video of the entire process, talking about how his company was created, going over some surface mount soldering pointers, providing some discounts on product and giving away some prizes. Sounds like lots of fun so why not check it out. You may remember the Bumble-B from this project that we featured a few months ago.

“From December 26 2009 through January 4 2010, I invite you into the process of building Bumble-B’s. I’ll build ten per day and video record the entire process. While building, I’ll chat all about Fletchtronics and how I started up a hobby / part-time evening business that is paying for itself and not breaking the bank. A blog post with a more detailed description of the content, and room for Q&A in comments will accompany each video.”