Comments on: Machine balances pencil on its tip http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1003010 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003010 I sometimes wish I had studied engineering at ETH. They keep publishing these videos of relatively simple, useless, but very cool contraptions. Must be fun. I sometimes wish I had studied engineering at ETH. They keep publishing these videos of relatively simple, useless, but very cool contraptions. Must be fun.

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1002009 robcat2075 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002009 In another age this would show up as an executive toy in the Sharper Image catalog next to must-haves like the motorized tie rack and the electric back hair shaver. In another age this would show up as an executive toy in the Sharper Image catalog next to must-haves like the motorized tie rack and the electric back hair shaver.

]]> By: frankieboy http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001766 frankieboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001766 Pfffft! I'll bet NASA could do the same thing for only $500 mil. What did you guys spend, huh? Probably didn't even let the taxpayers in on it. Pfffft! I’ll bet NASA could do the same thing for only $500 mil. What did you guys spend, huh? Probably didn’t even let the taxpayers in on it.

]]> By: InsertFingerHere http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1002278 InsertFingerHere Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002278 "I am" “I am”

]]> By: kpkpkp http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001786 kpkpkp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001786 I am curious if the machine can achieve quiet equilibrium. This would most likely require the ability to measure the mass of the pencil in the course of corrective actions. I am curious if the machine can achieve quiet equilibrium. This would most likely require the ability to measure the mass of the pencil in the course of corrective actions.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001801 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001801 Reminds me of W. C. Fields. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZWq14uD-A&t=2m20s Reminds me of W. C. Fields.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZWq14uD-A&t=2m20s

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001803 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001803 Interesting to me because I'm the only person I know who can balance a pencil on my finger tip, everybody thinks it's a trick, I just always have been able to, I can balance anything easier (weightier at the top) so still it looks like it glued to my finger, useless but neat. Interesting to me because I’m the only person I know who can balance a pencil on my finger tip, everybody thinks it’s a trick,
I just always have been able to, I can balance anything easier
(weightier at the top) so still it looks like it glued to my finger, useless but neat.

]]> By: jackm http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001808 jackm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001808 For their next research project, they'll be making a machine which can mechanically balance a spoon on their nose... For their next research project, they’ll be making a machine which can mechanically balance a spoon on their nose…

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1002095 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002095 I'd like to see a pen installed in the bottom and a piece of paper locked beneath to see what it draws as it keeps the pencil on top upright. I’d like to see a pen installed in the bottom and a piece of paper locked beneath to see what it draws as it keeps the pencil on top upright.

]]> By: cory http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1002615 cory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002615 If I understand what you mean by "quiet equilibrium", I don't think it's actually possible in the general case. They said it was an "abritrary standard pencil", i.e. not one that was specially balanced and sharpened to be exactly balanced. It is certainly possible to sharpen a pencil so that it is lopsided which would make that equilibrium (non-moving pencil) impossible. I believe it is probably the <i>most common case by far</i> that a pencil will not have a perfect mass distribution, but I can't prove this off the top of my head. If I understand what you mean by “quiet equilibrium”, I don’t think it’s actually possible in the general case. They said it was an “abritrary standard pencil”, i.e. not one that was specially balanced and sharpened to be exactly balanced.

It is certainly possible to sharpen a pencil so that it is lopsided which would make that equilibrium (non-moving pencil) impossible. I believe it is probably the most common case by far that a pencil will not have a perfect mass distribution, but I can’t prove this off the top of my head.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001851 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001851 cool stuff. FWIW, Tobi Delbruck is the son of the late Max Delbruck, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1969. cool stuff. FWIW, Tobi Delbruck is the son of the late Max Delbruck, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1969.

]]> By: JayConverse http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001868 JayConverse Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001868 And how many of you just tried to do it at your desk? And failed? And how many of you just tried to do it at your desk? And failed?

]]> By: adralien http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1001871 adralien Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1001871 @kp They're doing some neat visual processing that only detects pixel changes rather than detecting the actual pencil... They seem to do this to reduce the amount of information from the visual sensors and mimic how real eyes convey information. I think that means that the pencil always has to be moving somewhat to generate input to adjust the motion table. Other systems out there that use full-frame video and a bunch more processing can statically balance things like double pendulums on end. @kp They’re doing some neat visual processing that only detects pixel changes rather than detecting the actual pencil… They seem to do this to reduce the amount of information from the visual sensors and mimic how real eyes convey information.

I think that means that the pencil always has to be moving somewhat to generate input to adjust the motion table.

Other systems out there that use full-frame video and a bunch more processing can statically balance things like double pendulums on end.

]]> By: Kaleberg http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1003451 Kaleberg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1003451 That really brings back memories. Back in 1974 Professor Dertouzos at MIT gave a robotics course. He had two big goals. He wanted a computer to accompany him on a recorder, listening as he played to match his tempo, and he wanted a robot that could balance a broomstick much as this device balances a pencil. The first computers on a chip were just being released. A friend of mine and I did a survey of available, and almost available processors, and both projects were near the hairy edge of their processing power given what we knew about physics and control theory. I remember he had a spec from Toshiba for a processor they were developing and hoped to sell to Ford to control automobile engines. It looked promising. I also remember an awful lot of neat gizmos being built in the lab, and Professor Dertouzos addressing our awkward question, "That's right. You are probably wondering about getting a grade." It took another year or two before he got his balancing robot. I'm less sure about his recorder companion, though I gather there are such things today. That really brings back memories. Back in 1974 Professor Dertouzos at MIT gave a robotics course. He had two big goals. He wanted a computer to accompany him on a recorder, listening as he played to match his tempo, and he wanted a robot that could balance a broomstick much as this device balances a pencil. The first computers on a chip were just being released. A friend of mine and I did a survey of available, and almost available processors, and both projects were near the hairy edge of their processing power given what we knew about physics and control theory. I remember he had a spec from Toshiba for a processor they were developing and hoped to sell to Ford to control automobile engines. It looked promising. I also remember an awful lot of neat gizmos being built in the lab, and Professor Dertouzos addressing our awkward question, “That’s right. You are probably wondering about getting a grade.”

It took another year or two before he got his balancing robot. I’m less sure about his recorder companion, though I gather there are such things today.

]]> By: Eric Hart http://boingboing.net/2011/01/21/machine-balances-pen.html#comment-1002447 Eric Hart Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002447 This is strangely compelling to keep watching. This is strangely compelling to keep watching.

]]>