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Tech NewsSploidThe cute rolling ball droid in the new Star Wars is a real robot not CGI
Perhaps the best part about the new Star Wars trailer was seeing BB-8, the adorable rolling ball robot in the new Star Wars movie, bounce and roll itself across the screen. It looked so familiar and so cute and so perfect as the new movie’s answer to R2-D2. And the best thing about it? BB-8 … Continued
By Casey Chan -
Tech News
You Can Already 3D Print Yourself a Copy of That Star Wars Ball Droid
If you’ve foolishly gotten yourself all excited for Star Wars: The Force Awakens after just the teaser trailer (really? did no one else watch Lost?) you’ll be ecstatic to hear that you can already 3D-print yourself a copy of that adorable rolling ball droid we barely got a glimpse of. The 3D model comes courtesy … Continued
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io9Robin gets his license revoked on Teen Titans Go
This week in the world of cartoons, everything took a week off. Ultimate Spider-Man, Transformers: Prime, Adventure Time, Regular Show and TMNT are off, while Teen Titans Go! returned for its second week. Due to this bizarre scheduling anomaly, enjoy the new TTG! clips and a look back at some old school Star Wars cartoons … Continued
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io9
Halloween costume ideas for the Star Wars droids in your life
We’ve seen tons of fictional characters dressed up as C-3PO and R2-D2 around Halloween time, but what do the droids wear when they go out trick-or-treating? Artist Andrea Gerstmann has a few suggestions for coordinating costumes. If you head over to Gerstmann’s blog, you can also see the Mario and Pokémon outfits she’s dreamed up … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
io9
When Star Wars droids suffer from low self-esteem
Even robots get the blues sometimes. When the Star Wars droids start feeling the ennui tugging at the edges of their consciousness, do they simply bottle up their melancholy? This series gives voice to their frustration. All these wallpapers make me want to collect all the neglected droids in the world and give them a … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
Tech News
Astromech Tops Argyle as This Season’s Must-Have Holiday Sweater
Ironic holiday sweater parties can happen spontaneously at all periods of your life, except post-40, when your wardrobe necessitates they become “holiday parties.” Good thing this custom R2-D2 sweater would be at home with any generation. Created by Etsy member EricaKnit, the droid-gauge weave is made-to-order, so have a tape measure handy. Oh, and please … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech NewsPilotless Navy Helicopter Busts Cocaine Deal During Trial Run
The US Navy’s unmanned “Fire Scout” helicopter was out minding its own business on a trial run, when its home base warship detected a suspicious speedboat on radar. That’s when Robocopter kicked into high pursuit—filming the whole way. The subsequent three-hour chase finally ended when the speedboat rendezvoused with a fishing boat, at which time … Continued
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io9Movies
Android On Android Love
Is this android lovefest the best Star Wars/Star Trek mash up t-shirt ever created? Using the scientific method, we’ve determined the answer is yes. This is the hot droid-on-droid love fest we’ve been looking for. More amazing T-shirts below. Artist Joanna Mulder was showing off her amazing wares at NYC’s King Con this weekend, and … Continued
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Tech News
Honda’s Groin-Threatening Robo-Legs Demonstrated On Video
Why Honda took a few days to seed a video of their potentially emasculating robotic legs is beyond me, but here it is: a faceless man running the “Walking Assist Device” through its strides (ha, ha). My fears of testicular danger are only partially mitigated, and the fact that the legs have a hilariously feminine … Continued
By John Herrman -
Tech News
Honda Robo-Legs Help Mobility at the Expense of Fertility
Honda’s first foray into robotizing old peoples’ haunches looked pretty tame, but this new one, on which geriatrics are supposed to mount like some sort of meat trophy, feels like a glimpse into a horrible, dystopian future where up is down, right is wrong and grandmas and grandpas amble through Sears on mechanized rectal steeds … Continued
By John Herrman -
Tech NewsDIY R2-D2 Is Even Better than the Real Thing
Chris James’ R2-D2 won four Make Magazine editors’ choice ribbons at Maker Faire and it’s easy to see why: not only does it have every detail from the original—except having a little person inside—but this one is even more charming, capable of singing the Star Wars theme, and Indiana Jones sound bites. It only needs … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
Tech NewsGadgets
R2-D2 Actor Kenny Baker Taken Ill, Giz Says Get Well Soon
Kenny Baker, the man behind everyone’s favourite ‘droid, is in a Manchester hospital after suffering a severe asthma attack. The 73-year-old actor was on a Manchester-bound plane returning from a sci-fi convention in the US when he was taken ill. A speedy recovery from everyone at Gizmodo, Kenny. [Telegraph]
By AddyDugdale -
Tech News
Life-Size Star Wars Droids Can Speak, Drain Wallets
Sideshow Collectibles stopped just short of encasing Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker in fiberglass when they created these life-size C-3PO and R2-D2 collectibles. Due out later this year, the authentic figures are powered by lowly AA batteries and have working lights. They also make sounds from the movies and utter the characters’ classic catchphrases, like … Continued
By Gizmodo.com -
Tech News
Robots Master Mid-Air Refueling on Their Way to World Domination
Droids just made their next step toward completely replacing human beings, beating out human pilots in air-to-air refueling. Last year’s bot-pilots were a bit clumsy, fumbling their way through the delicate maneuver that requires a pilot to perform an operation air jockeys liken to “taking a running fuck at a rolling doughnut.” But this year’s … Continued
