The Uira Engine: Alan Rorie (video)

Science


The Uira Engine is a part of the guts from the Raygun Gothic Rocket Ship, which now resides in San Francisco’s Embarcadero. For Maker Faire Bay Area 2011, the engine was displayed by its designer, Alan Rorie. The engine consists of a series of cylinders that slowly rotate while emitting capacitive discharge that’s pleasing to the eye. Parts of this were handmade as well as produced from a CNC, and provided an important visual component to the rocket ship.

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24 thoughts on “The Uira Engine: Alan Rorie (video)

  1. James Patrick says:

    All hand-made, by a robot.

  2. James Patrick says:

    All hand-made, by a robot.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I was kind of expecting to see some footage of the “absolutely gorgeous” discharge that the summary and Alan (in the interview) mention.

    1. Alan Rorie says:

      Hi Cairnm and all:

      You can see plenty of video and learn more about the piece, and the rest of my work, at my webpage Almost Scientific.
      http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/project/the-uira-engine-2009/  
      Thanks for the post Make!

  4. Bryan Farrell says:

    how cool is that!

  5. Kompani says:

    All talk and no action.

  6. Kompani says:

    All talk and no action.

  7. Kompani says:

    All talk and no action.

  8. michaelshiloh says:

    “pleasing to the eye”?? That’s a little weak. It is a most awesome and unique visual display, quite unlike anything this jaded geek has seen, even in 50 years of mucking with electricity and 20 years of working with SRL.

    Seriously cool. Congratulations Alan and crew!

  9. michaelshiloh says:

    “pleasing to the eye”?? That’s a little weak. It is a most awesome and unique visual display, quite unlike anything this jaded geek has seen, even in 50 years of mucking with electricity and 20 years of working with SRL.

    Seriously cool. Congratulations Alan and crew!

  10. michaelshiloh says:

    “pleasing to the eye”? That’s a little weak.

    It is an awesome and unique visual display, quite unlike anything this geek has seen in 50 years of mucking with electricity and 20 years of working with SRL. That covers quite a few visual displays.

    It’s pretty hard to come up with a new visual display of electricity. Congratulations Alan and crew!

    1. Alan Rorie says:

      Thanks for the kind words Michael.

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In addition to being an online editor for MAKE Magazine, Michael Colombo works in fabrication, electronics, sound design, music production and performance (Yes. All that.) In the past he has also been a childrens' educator and entertainer, and holds a Masters degree from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program.

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