Make: Online : knife.hand.chop.bot

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Wow, the knife.hand.chop.bot is my new favorite bot. The best part of the video is the laser dot that appears on the person's hand before it starts its chopping -

5VOLTCORE is about to build a self-fulfilling cybernetic system, that plays with the senses and perceptions of the User and the sensors and the processes of the Machine.

The Robot is equipped with a knife that the Machine uses to s(t)imulate the test of courage - a kind of game known as "Mumblety-Peg". The User puts his/her hand into the Machine and starts the knife game at the push of a button. The knife starts to hit the space between the fingers, first slowly then continually getting faster. The Machine knows where to chop by receiving signals of a sensor that guides the knife to the place between the fingers.

Electric contacts are mounted on the support block of the Machine, where the hand is situated. These contacts are activated as soon as the first "nervous sweat" appears that turns the skin into a conductor. Subsequently the computer becomes disturbed by the electric current that is now transmitted via the skin.

This has two effects: on the one hand, sounds are generated by the closure of the contacts (circuit bending) that can either be interpreted as warning or act as an additional source of stress. On the other hand, they can have an effect on the position of the knife which is controlled by the computer and thereby hurt the potential perpetrator of the disturbance.

knife.hand.chop.bot - Link.

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: lemaymd on August 13, 2007 at 6:47 PM

I find your enthusiasm for this project very troubling. This is basically self-inflicted psychological torture, with a distinct possibility for actual physical harm if you move your hand at the wrong instant, as best I understand it. Along with the recent post on building an "awesome" cutting laser with very few safety warnings, I think Make has to re-assess its general directions and responsibilities to its readers of all ages and skill levels.

Reply to this comment

Posted by: philliptorrone on August 13, 2007 at 7:12 PM

"Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!"

we cover all sorts of projects, and there are warnings all over our site. if you're not comfortable with any project please do not attempt. as far as this project, it's an art project - not a how to. i'm pretty sure no one has died from this or used it against their will?

Posted by: p914 on August 13, 2007 at 8:10 PM

Unlike the laser flashlight, this one actually looks dangerous. I'll let it fly. :-)

Posted by: ENDIF on August 13, 2007 at 8:24 PM

I find your enthusiasm for this project very entertaining. This is basically self inflicted psychological torture, with a distant possibility for actual harm, since the bot only stabs where there is no resistive contact from the presence of a hand and its component parts. Along with the recent post on building an awesome (no quotes, it was awesome) cutting laser, I think Make is one of my favorite sites on the net, and if readers are too stupid to heed the ample warnings, let the Darwin awards commence.

Posted by: samurai1200 on August 13, 2007 at 8:54 PM

Darwin Awards... best invention ever.
Guess what, you DO NOT CROSS when cars are flying past the crosswalk.

Posted by: RTourn on August 13, 2007 at 9:29 PM

ahh, our new robot overlords as a baby, so cute, in a blood curling way.

Posted by: cheesy on August 14, 2007 at 3:04 AM

Holy crap. I sure hope that thing knows Isaac Asimov's 3 laws...