building a better car... lego style
 

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/g...ild-lego-cars/


It's one thing to craft something remarkable all by your lonesome, but constructing an entire factory to handle all the dirty work for you is really doing something. A robotics group assembled (ahem) at a German "grammar school" (VHG) in lower Bavaria has fabricated a feat that even Toys R Us would marvel over, as the group's expansive LEGO Mindstorm factory was built entirely out of LEGO blocks, and moreover, programmed to assemble LEGO-based vehicles. Taking a note from every other major assembly plant in the world, this automated construction site feeds blocks from one end to the other, carefully pushing, pulling, and connecting pieces as necessary to completely assemble a LEGO car. While we've no idea how you'd even begin concocting this same masterpiece at your own domicile, nor how tough it is to be admitted into this apparently incredulous university, you'll reportedly need at least 2,000 man hours and €3,000 ($3,937) just to get started, but feel free to click on through for a lengthy video demonstration.

Now thats a trip I never thought i would see.. T2 is coming .. via lego revolution.

That is just freaking amazing. The Germans are amazing with their craftiness.

That's awesome. I remember back when I was younger, I had this tractor-trailer Lego Technic set that had a crane on the back of it. It had a fully-working pneumatic pump system that had actuators and all sorts of stuff to make the crane on the back of the rig fully functional. Here's a pic:

<img src="http://www.fifth-r.com/cssoh1/supplies/pneu_sets/8868set37-320crp.jpg">

That thing was so awesome. I still have about half the pieces to it. It's half-assembled right now in my parent's basement. I would kill to be able to order the entire set again and put it back together.

All that hard work and they go and run the release ramp off the edge of the table. Genius. :rolleyes:

Unless of course it's some kind of philosophical statement about the futility of modern life in the age of automation and mass industrialization. Brilliant! :D

Actually, that was a typical cliff hanger...

Wait for "Mindstorms Autofabrik II: It's The Bricks" where the fallen cars each get trashed, recycled and together made into a bridge that crosses the gap between the factory and the next table :)

I'm really impressed by the video. Makes me whish I had 10 Mindstorms sets ;)

The Element looks better in LEGO>

I bet its energy efficient too. :thumbsup: