Author: Christoph Bartneck

Spirograph Automaton made with LEGO Mindstorms EV3

This Spirograph Automaton is a LEGO drawing machine based on the the popular toy and the ideas of PG52. This version extends previous designs by using LEGO Mindstorms EV3. The Spirograph Automaton knows when the pattern is complete and lifts the pen at the right time. You no longer have to observe the machine to stop it when the drawing is complete. The gears are optimized to give fast results so that the children do not have to wait too long. I also build a coin detector that triggers the Spirograph Automaton.

The building instructions are available.

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Please notice that the instructions do not include the three Mindsensors’ GlideWheel-AS sensors. They are not part of the LDD library. And neither is the part 14720 (Technic, Liftarm 3 X 5 Perpendicular H-Shape Thick) of which you will need two. You will also need four rubber bands, may it be from LEGO or otherwise. You can also consider using the Technic Changeover Plate (6631) for a better gear shifting experience. The complete parts list is available at ReRrickable.

The required software is available here. You need to run the program “calibrate” before running the program “draw”. Otherwise you will get a file reading error.

New Minifgure Catalogs Available

The 2013 LEGO Minifigure Catalog is now available. It contains photographs of more than 550 Minifigures that were produced in 2013. It is very complete and I was even able to photograph the very rare Minifigures.

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Furthermore, I am happy to announce that the 2nd edition of the 2012 LEGO Minifigure Catalog and the 3rd edition of the Star Wars LEGO Minifigure Catalog are now available. The later contains all the photographs and data of the 2013 Minifigures in addition to several corrections and extensions. The 2nd edition of the 2012 catalog contains mainly additions and some minor corrections. The Minifigures from the Arkham Asylum, for example, have been added to the catalog. I hope you enjoy the books.

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Science progresses through the death of its professors

It is well known that the progress of science is related to social processes. Thomas Kuhn and the work based on him made this pretty clear. I would go a step further and declare that “Science progresses through the death of its professors”. I am not sure if this is a novel thought, maybe it is just a radicalization of Kuhn’s thoughts. I certainly do not want to encourage anyone to kill professors (being one myself), but I do think that the senior researchers do inhibit change. Maybe when I am a bit older I will see the benefit in it.

LEGO is not a tool of Satan

I am not proud of every citation I receive, and I certainly do not agree to Father Slawomir Kostrzewa who used our study to conclude that the increased diversity of LEGO faces has “…compounded their evil potential”. Yes, we have been able to show that the number of angry faces has increased, but our study did not investigate what effect this may have on children. We simply cannot provide any evidence one way or the other.

Father Slawomir Kostrzewa continues that “These toys can have a negative effect on children. They can destroy their souls and lead them to the dark side.” He really should know that the only way to join the dark side is by submitting to Darth Vader.

But then again, the report was published on April 1st, so maybe this is just a joke?