Tag Archives: Technic

The LEGO Technic line was first released as “Expert Builder” sets in 1977, and LEGO has been producing Technic ever since, including Bionicle and MINDSTORMS. The custom Technic models featured here on The Brothers Brick include some pretty crazy and amazing mechanisms that’ll blow your mind, from self-sorting LEGO to automated Rubik’s Cube solvers.

LEGO and science: robot cat for scaredy rats

LEGO Mindstorms (and indeed regular technic) are a not unusual sight in science laboratories. Unfortunately I’m not lucky enough to need ‘work LEGO’ but I have looked jealously into labs that do. Typically it’s used to automate simple procedures or make quick reconfigurable rigs.

The Kim Laboratory of the University of Washington use LEGO in a novel way: to test fear in rats using the aptly named Robogator. This is certainly the first time I’ve seen LEGO used in neuroscience and I have to admit the idea of testing fear using a bright colourful toy robot is pretty clever and amusing. They have a few videos too.

Physorg have more details and I, in an astounding reversal of the usual, found the link on Boing Boing.

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LEGO 3D scanner used to generate 3D LDraw parts

Did you know you can make a 3D laser scanner out of LEGO bricks and a few custom parts? No? Nor did I until today. Did you know you can then use your LEGO model to scan LEGO parts and turn them into 3D CAD LDraw parts to make virtual LEGO models out of? Amazing hey?

Phillipe Hurbaine (philo) is well known for his clever software, hardware, LEGOware and general LEGO-mechanical skill but I have to say his latest work just takes the cake. And as if making a 3D scanner wasn’t enough he has actually used it to model some LDraw parts. I think this is probably the best working LEGO thing I have ever seen.

48 wheels, remote controlled and with a very big gun

Our occassional technic reviewer Peer Kreuger (mahjqa) doesn’t just know about technic, he’s a dab hand at building it. Drawing inspiration from the Metal Slug computer games and his own omniwheels he’s created the crazy remote controlled Metal Grudge. And to really take it to the next level he’s used camera cars to get action shots like the one above. Much more fun than a computer game.

Alternative flickr video

Keep on trucking

Below is a guest article by Peer Kreuger (mahjqa). We asked Peer if he’d be willing to share his Technic expertise and do some guest articles for TBB. Hopefully there will be more to come.

Some people build trucks. Ingmar Spijkhoven (2LegoOrNot2Lego) builds mechanical masterpieces that don’t just work, the look great doing so as well.

Some of the functions: the truck is driveable, has suspension on all axles, liftable second axle, fully functional fifth wheel, a winch, and the trailer can split in two so vehicles can drive on and off.

Oh yeah. It’s all remotely controlled.

He has jammed everything so full of functionality that he needed separate pages for the truck, the trailer, and that doesn’t even include the wonderful excavator on the back.

Corroded Angel

Just so you know, we don’t feature action figures on the blog. What you’re looking at is another brilliant Lego creation by Brian Kescenovitz (mondayn00dle). The wings are made from Technic links, which seem to have more uses than being stuck to the bottom of a tank.

All aboard the LEGO train with working doors

It’s rare I get to use the ‘Technic’ category but when good technical design appears on a train even Technic-challenged me can appreciate it. Esben Kolind gives his commuter train a whole lot more fun with working doors and, as though that wasn’t impressive enough, a sliding step. And he does all this on a well detailed six-wide train. Incredible only begins to describe my feelings.

Thanks to Tim David for the link.

Mahjqa bridges the gap with his Stilzkin Bridge Launcher

In regards to the Technic builder Peer (Mahjqa) Kreuger, I’ve come to expect the unexpected in the functional creations that one can make out of Lego. His latest Stilzkin Bridge Launcher is a vehicle that carries and deploys its own bridge to cross a chasm. Check out this must-see video for the entire action footage.

RailMail

Not only does Carl Greatrix (bricktrix) make fantastic train models he’s also a very clever LEGO engineer. His model TPO rail wagon (travelling post office) actually collects mail parcels on the run with a hatch that pops out and snaps shut again. As an added bonus it also features working wheel suspension. Truly a mechanical masterpiece and pretty to boot.

LEGO Technic Bugatti Veyron has working seven-speed transmission

Spanish LEGO builder Sheepo has built a Bugatti Veyron from Technic that not only sports the beautiful lines of the original but also incorporates a fully functional seven-speed gearbox, retracting spoiler, independent suspension, and more features of the world’s most expensive car.

Watch the video here:

And read more about Sheepo’s Veyron in his article in Hispabrick Magazine 007.

LEGO Technic RDA Samson battle helicopter from Avatar

This Technic version of the Aerospatiale SA-2 Samson VTOL aircraft from James Cameron’s Avatar by Barry (barman) features so many working components it’s hard to list my favorites.

With counter-rotating props, doors that open and close, and a central joystick that controls the angle of the props, you have to see the video to believe it:

Thanks for the tip, mahjqa!

20000 studs under the sea

Fedde (Karf Oolhu) busts out the technic figs for this deceptively large but totally lovely personal SUB-21 submarine. I now sit in wait for comments about the lack of watertightness.

LEGO MINDSTORMS RCX solves Rubik’s Cube in 12 seconds flat

Mike Dobson has created “CubeStormer” — the world’s fastest Rubik’s Cube solver. Watch it to believe it.

CubeStormer uses the older MINDSTORMS RCX robotics system, hooked into Cube Explorer software.

Thanks for the tip, Carter. I’d passed this up when it made the rounds on the ‘net about a week ago, but this MINDSTORMS Rubik’s Cube solver is different indeed.