Comments on: Behold: The world's most complicated Rube Goldberg machine http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Dual http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088258 Dual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088258 Yeah, really poor video: a Rube Goldberg device shown only in tight shots and cross-cuts. Sheeeesh. Pretty much incomprehensible and thus- boring. Yeah, really poor video: a Rube Goldberg device shown only in tight shots and cross-cuts. Sheeeesh. Pretty much incomprehensible and thus- boring.

]]> By: EeyoreX http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088273 EeyoreX Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088273 What mostly everyone else said: gorgeous machine, unbearably crappy video. We want to <I>follow</i> the chain reaction, the cause-and-effect; every cut is a failure. If you want to show simultainious events, then you should use split-screen. What mostly everyone else said: gorgeous machine, unbearably crappy video.
We want to follow the chain reaction, the cause-and-effect; every cut is a failure. If you want to show simultainious events, then you should use split-screen.

]]> By: Matt Picasso http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087533 Matt Picasso Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087533 I'm sure it's a fine machine, but it really loses a lot through editing. What's the point in a RG device if I can't easily tell how everything is interacting? The cuts often make it seem as though these are unconnected events. I’m sure it’s a fine machine, but it really loses a lot through editing. What’s the point in a RG device if I can’t easily tell how everything is interacting? The cuts often make it seem as though these are unconnected events.

]]> By: huntsu http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087534 huntsu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087534 Camera work would use a little, well, work. Camera work would use a little, well, work.

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087537 xzzy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087537 I always thought the defining trait of a goldberg machine was taking a tiny amount of initial momentum and carrying it all the way through the machine until it completes its task at the end. Maybe the video does a bad job showing what's going on.. but this just looks like someone flips a switch and a bunch of automatons play through their script in sequence. I always thought the defining trait of a goldberg machine was taking a tiny amount of initial momentum and carrying it all the way through the machine until it completes its task at the end.

Maybe the video does a bad job showing what’s going on.. but this just looks like someone flips a switch and a bunch of automatons play through their script in sequence.

]]> By: Pliny the Elder http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087545 Pliny the Elder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087545 I love Rube Goldberg videos but this sucks. Rule number one is to follow the movement without cutting camera angles so everyone can see it all happened in one take. I love Rube Goldberg videos but this sucks. Rule number one is to follow the movement without cutting camera angles so everyone can see it all happened in one take.

]]> By: tylerkaraszewski http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087549 tylerkaraszewski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087549 Honda ad and OK Go video are both much, much better. Honda ad and OK Go video are both much, much better.

]]> By: eaglescout1984 http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1091408 eaglescout1984 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1091408 For me it has to be the aptly named "Breakfast machine" by Danny Elfman from Pee Wee's Big Adventure. For me it has to be the aptly named “Breakfast machine” by Danny Elfman from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

]]> By: fubbs http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087571 fubbs Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087571 this is awesome. I love how every contraption has a theme that ties in to world history, as opposed to the toasters, bowling balls & hot wheels cars that usually make up these things. + The only criticism I accept of something as nonsensical and creative as a goldberg machine is to build a better one. this is awesome. I love how every contraption has a theme that ties in to world history, as opposed to the toasters, bowling balls & hot wheels cars that usually make up these things.

+ The only criticism I accept of something as nonsensical and creative as a goldberg machine is to build a better one.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087837 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087837 You're missing the slash between the two statements: "Purdue Society of Professional Engineers/Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers." Doesn't sound to me like the engineers need to be Hispanic. They could simply be members of the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers. You’re missing the slash between the two statements: “Purdue Society of Professional Engineers/Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers.”

Doesn’t sound to me like the engineers need to be Hispanic. They could simply be members of the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers.

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087838 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087838 using electricity is cheating and its boring. If you're going to accept adding complicated electrical crap into it then really there is no point of setting a world record because the only thing stopping you from adding more steps is growing bored with what is really a pointless project. If you are adding electricity and crap like that than isn't pretty much everything a rube goldberg machine? My car is a rube goldberg machine . . . I put my foot on the pedal, it takes me to taco bell, I order a chalupa, a chalupa gets made, later on, poop comes out, it's really amazing I will get a video up of this later. using electricity is cheating and its boring. If you’re going to accept adding complicated electrical crap into it then really there is no point of setting a world record because the only thing stopping you from adding more steps is growing bored with what is really a pointless project.

If you are adding electricity and crap like that than isn’t pretty much everything a rube goldberg machine? My car is a rube goldberg machine . . . I put my foot on the pedal, it takes me to taco bell, I order a chalupa, a chalupa gets made, later on, poop comes out, it’s really amazing I will get a video up of this later.

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087848 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087848 <i>"I always thought the defining trait of a goldberg machine was taking a tiny amount of initial momentum and carrying it all the way through the machine until it completes its task at the end. Maybe the video does a bad job showing what's going on.. but this just looks like someone flips a switch and a bunch of automatons play through their script in sequence. </i> According to wiki a RG machine is "a deliberately over-engineered machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction." I'm not sure what the "simple" task this machine is performing is. Supposedly it's watering a flower, but really what it's doing is presenting a tongue in cheek crash course through the history of the planet. Kind of a complicated task done in an overly simplistic manner . . . wouldn't that be the opposite of a rube goldberg machine? “I always thought the defining trait of a goldberg machine was taking a tiny amount of initial momentum and carrying it all the way through the machine until it completes its task at the end.

Maybe the video does a bad job showing what’s going on.. but this just looks like someone flips a switch and a bunch of automatons play through their script in sequence.

According to wiki a RG machine is “a deliberately over-engineered machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction.”

I’m not sure what the “simple” task this machine is performing is. Supposedly it’s watering a flower, but really what it’s doing is presenting a tongue in cheek crash course through the history of the planet. Kind of a complicated task done in an overly simplistic manner . . . wouldn’t that be the opposite of a rube goldberg machine?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087597 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087597 Nice but not as nice as this looped lego robotics rube goldberg machine: http://www.riemurasia.net/rrplayer/rrplayer.swf?file=http://media.riemurasia.net/albumit/m10225/806610815.mp4 Nice but not as nice as this looped lego robotics rube goldberg machine:
http://www.riemurasia.net/rrplayer/rrplayer.swf?file=http://media.riemurasia.net/albumit/m10225/806610815.mp4

]]> By: Teller http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087615 Teller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087615 Since no one else is willing to say it: there shouldn't be any edits. Since no one else is willing to say it: there shouldn’t be any edits.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087616 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087616 I love rube contraptions, but im far more of a fan of the purely mechanical ones. Something is lost in the electricity. Though i do think this one would have benefited from better cinematography. Fun idea using it to diagram the timeline though, not a single simple use but still something different. I love rube contraptions, but im far more of a fan of the purely mechanical ones. Something is lost in the electricity. Though i do think this one would have benefited from better cinematography.

Fun idea using it to diagram the timeline though, not a single simple use but still something different.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087629 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087629 Nice theme and some clever movements. I think though that it relies on electrical mechanisms too much. I prefer my RG setups to be mechanically based. Using switches and electric motors a lot is sort of cheating in my opinion. I'd hate to have to reset this thing though. Nice theme and some clever movements. I think though that it relies on electrical mechanisms too much. I prefer my RG setups to be mechanically based. Using switches and electric motors a lot is sort of cheating in my opinion.

I’d hate to have to reset this thing though.

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087641 Roy Trumbull Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087641 My favorite RG machine had a real purpose. I was chief engineer of an AM-FM combination. The AM was in tidelands 40 miles away. The transmitter predated remotely resettable circuit breakers. If one popped you shot half a day going to reset it. My predecessor took inspiration from Rube Goldberg and made a marvelous invention. Mounted on the face of the transmitter was the mechanism from a Seeberg jukebox. Attached to it was a horizontal wooden bar that it raised and lowered. Clamped to each end of the wooden bar was a vertical welding rod. At the press of a remote button the rods would push a tripped breaker back on. If the breaker was on already it just brushed past it. Often a new technology will hit the road without the essential accessories. Engineers throw together stopgap kluges that do what needs to be done and a year or two later replace it with what should have been available at the product's launch. Rube lives! My favorite RG machine had a real purpose. I was chief engineer of an AM-FM combination. The AM was in tidelands 40 miles away. The transmitter predated remotely resettable circuit breakers. If one popped you shot half a day going to reset it.
My predecessor took inspiration from Rube Goldberg and made a marvelous invention. Mounted on the face of the transmitter was the mechanism from a Seeberg jukebox. Attached to it was a horizontal wooden bar that it raised and lowered. Clamped to each end of the wooden bar was a vertical welding rod. At the press of a remote button the rods would push a tripped breaker back on. If the breaker was on already it just brushed past it.
Often a new technology will hit the road without the essential accessories. Engineers throw together stopgap kluges that do what needs to be done and a year or two later replace it with what should have been available at the product’s launch.
Rube lives!

]]> By: g0d5m15t4k3 http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087651 g0d5m15t4k3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087651 These guys in the picture sure don't look Hispanic or have Hispanic names: "David Cannon , Alex Weaver and Matt Miller (L-R) react to their Purdue Society of Professional Engineers/Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers machine at the Rube Goldberg competition. Read more: 24th Annual National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest - Guinness World Records - Popular Mechanics" These guys in the picture sure don’t look Hispanic or have Hispanic names:

“David Cannon , Alex Weaver and Matt Miller (L-R) react to their Purdue Society of Professional Engineers/Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers machine at the Rube Goldberg competition.

Read more: 24th Annual National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest – Guinness World Records – Popular Mechanics”

]]> By: squidfood http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087915 squidfood Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087915 I'm not sure if it was a "true" Rube Goldberg, but at least some of the drawn ones I've seen in the past have used electric fans to push sailboats/etc. Some of RGs do rely on switching on faucets which is also outside power. I think electricity or external power is fine as long as each on switch is triggered by the previous thing (and not by external control sequence). I’m not sure if it was a “true” Rube Goldberg, but at least some of the drawn ones I’ve seen in the past have used electric fans to push sailboats/etc. Some of RGs do rely on switching on faucets which is also outside power. I think electricity or external power is fine as long as each on switch is triggered by the previous thing (and not by external control sequence).

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087673 Maggie Koerth-Baker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087673 Neither do my cousin's kids ... and yet. It's also quite possible this was built by more than three people, not all of whom are pictured. What's your point, g0d5m15t4k3? Neither do my cousin’s kids … and yet. It’s also quite possible this was built by more than three people, not all of whom are pictured.

What’s your point, g0d5m15t4k3?

]]> By: Senor Schaffer http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088699 Senor Schaffer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088699 I was so excited to watch this. Was. :( I was so excited to watch this.

Was.

:(

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087934 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087934 It's hard to tell how or even if any of these steps are truly dependant on the previous step, there is so much going on and not much transparency. That's the problem when you have too much automation . . . yeah I've seen fans and that sort of thing incorporated into RG devices (like the one with the car) but it should at least be immediately clear what exactly is going on. Those types of devices tend to be big sprawling messes as opposed to this thing which is really just a glorified diorama in a neat little rectangular presentation. Rube Golberg must be spinning in his grave right now . . . powering fan which is blowing a ball bearing towards a hole through which it will drop and hit a switch and out will pop a slice of toast . . . It’s hard to tell how or even if any of these steps are truly dependant on the previous step, there is so much going on and not much transparency. That’s the problem when you have too much automation . . . yeah I’ve seen fans and that sort of thing incorporated into RG devices (like the one with the car) but it should at least be immediately clear what exactly is going on.

Those types of devices tend to be big sprawling messes as opposed to this thing which is really just a glorified diorama in a neat little rectangular presentation.

Rube Golberg must be spinning in his grave right now . . . powering fan which is blowing a ball bearing towards a hole through which it will drop and hit a switch and out will pop a slice of toast . . .

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088962 chgoliz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088962 This is just one of several videos of the machine. On <a href="http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/rubegoldberg/index.html">the official Purdue University site for the 2010 Rube Goldberg contest</a> you'll see that they start with an unedited video showing the full run in real time, followed immediately by the above video. There's probably more after that, but I didn't bother to watch any longer. This is just one of several videos of the machine. On the official Purdue University site for the 2010 Rube Goldberg contest you’ll see that they start with an unedited video showing the full run in real time, followed immediately by the above video. There’s probably more after that, but I didn’t bother to watch any longer.

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087699 SedanChair Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087699 Actually no camera edits is rule #2. Rule #1 is that you have to play Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" in the background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDqR4fqIWE Actually no camera edits is rule #2.

Rule #1 is that you have to play Raymond Scott’s “Powerhouse” in the background:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDqR4fqIWE

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088981 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088981 The team was made up of 17 members, only 3 who were hispanic and whose names were not mentioned The team was made up of 17 members, only 3 who were hispanic and whose names were not mentioned

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1088226 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1088226 Purdue ME alum here. Goldberg utilized all sorts of stored energy in his contraptions. This machine is marvelous, though I don't usually think of the Middle Ages and WWII to be adjacent time periods. Anyone who disses this effort, show us a better one that you have done. Purdue ME alum here.

Goldberg utilized all sorts of stored energy in his contraptions. This machine is marvelous, though I don’t usually think of the Middle Ages and WWII to be adjacent time periods.

Anyone who disses this effort, show us a better one that you have done.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1087731 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1087731 There is a full un-edited run through on Youtube. There is a full un-edited run through on Youtube.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/20/behold-the-worlds-mo.html#comment-1089022 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1089022 Here is the unedited version of our machine running: Purdue's PSPE Rube Goldberg Machine 2011: World Record Breaking Perfect Run (Unedited) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zD_fcIm_tc Here is the unedited version of our machine running:

Purdue’s PSPE Rube Goldberg Machine 2011: World Record Breaking Perfect Run (Unedited)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zD_fcIm_tc

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