Alistair Lattimore » Videos

Nano Quadrotors

Al — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:56:42 +0000

In January 2010 I wrote about an amazing radio controlled four rotor helicopter known known as the Parrot AR.Drone, which utilised the iPhone gyroscope, touch screen and built in wifi to produce the most amazing flying toy I’d seen at the time.

Two years have passed and now the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania with development by KMel Robotics have miniturised the same basic concept to produce nano quadrotor helicopters.

As you’ll see in the video, a lot has changed and they possess some amazing built in technology, such as being able to right themselves when thrown into the air, along with clever algorithms to control moving between obstacles, flying in formation and much more.

I think this is absolutely mind blowing, least of which because they’d make an amazing toy but mainly because it represents a huge leap forward in robots and sensing, a lot like the self driving cars that Google have developed.

Amazing.

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Hugo Learning To Ride Three Wheel Scooter

Al — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:20:05 +0000

For Hugo’s 3rd birthday, he received a fantastic three wheel scooter, helmet and sunglasses. Initially he wasn’t too sure about the whole thing, then it was all the rage and then it went out of flavour again.

Recently it is back in his go to toy list again and he’s been scooting around the house on it and I’ve been encouraging him to push, scoot and glide instead of constantly pushing in an attempt to get him to build his balance.

On the weekend, we popped over to the park near our house to give Hugo a go in a bigger space. To start with he was just happy riding his scooter across the width of the basket ball court but then I suggested that he ‘chase’ me around the outside edge instead – success!

Every indicator at this point is that Hugo will be right handed. However, oddly he was riding his scooter goofy with his right foot on the scooter and pushing with his left leg. While we were circling anti-clockwise, everything was a-okay. When we switched to go around clockwise, Hugo was unsteady as I expected as it is a little harder to turn the same direction as the leg you’re standing on. He stumbled a few times and fell off once but got straight back up and kept on going, which is the main thing.

Next step, hooning & the beginnings of a simple trick!

Having trouble viewing them embedded video, watch Hugo Lattimore Learning To Ride A Scooter on YouTube.

Evie Learning To Walk

I Believe I Can Fly

Al — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:46:25 +0000

After being amazed and inspired by the incredible talent of Danny Macaskill in Industrial Revolutions, the following video by Sebastien Montaz-Rosset of a group of extreme sport fanatics is sure to blow your mind. Following is a trailer for his upcoming 40 minute documentary that is due to be released online in the next few days.

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Kinetic Sculptures

Al — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:53:04 +0000

A Dutch artist named Theo Jansen makes kinetic sculptures from PVC pipe that walk along the beach using nothing but wind power and he calls them Strandbeests.

This is some of the most creative and beautiful art I’ve ever seen. I love the strong geometric lines, symmetry and the fact that they move, let alone walk is spectacular.

Metal Sculptures

Danny Macaskill – Industrial Revolutions

Al — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:11:05 +0000

Following on from the last installment of Danny Macaskill’s Way Back Home and his unbelievable mountain biking, we have his latest video Industrial Revolutions.

The balance Danny has is honestly hard to comprehend, watching him ride along the length of a railway track and doing a 180 spin to land on the opposite track is amazing, though topped by bouncing along the metal ribs on the top of an old train carriage which was blown out of the water by riding along a wobbly steel cable!

Evie Learning To Walk

Al — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:44:12 +0000

Evie has been thinking about walking a lot recently.

For Evie’s first birthday, she received a walker with adjustable breaks to give it some resistance so it didn’t scoot away. We never bothered with a toddler walker for Hugo and he learned to walk without a problem, so I wasn’t sure if it was really going to make a difference. However, to my surprise, as soon as we convinced Evie to stand on her own holding onto the walker, which she was very nervous about, she relaxed and soon tried taking her first steps with it.

Having trouble watching the embedded video, watch Evie Lattimore First Steps With Walker on YouTube.

Within a short few days, those tiny little first steps turned into her hooning up and down our living room. Of course she couldn’t steer and has no concept of stopping once she got her momentum up but that is what walls and couches are for afterall.

Having trouble viewing the embedded video, watch Evie Lattimore Confident Walker Walking on YouTube.

Evie’s use of the toddler walker was actually quite short lived and before we knew it, she was taking those same tiny, shuffling steps unassisted. Naturally as soon as she took a handful of shuffle steps, enough to move 10cm, she would sit back down. Claire and I were willing Evie to take bigger steps and then more steps, which seemed to peak at 8 steps for a few days and then a light bulb went off for her – if she doesn’t sit down, she can just keep on going like the Energizer Bunny!

Having trouble viewing the embedded video, watch Evie Lattimore Walking on YouTube.

Since the video above was filmed a week or so ago, Evie has nearly stopped crawling completely and is instead, walking around constantly. Looking at her expression as she cruises around the house, it is quite clear that she is as proud as punch that she can walk. Most importantly I think, she can keep up a little easier to her big brother Hugo – who she absolutely adores.

Danny MacAskill, Incredible Mountain Biking

Al — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:02:36 +0000

Following on from the video about Rodney Mullen’s crazy skateboarding dexterity, I found another one via Twitter today which has some of the most incredible mountain bike trail riding . The strength, balance, power and timing of Danny MacAskill in this video will amaze you.

Rodney Mullen, Unbelievable Skateboard Dexterity

Al — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:46:53 +0000

I came across this video by complete accident tonight while browsing the web and it shows Rodney Mullen performing some of the most insane skateboarding tricks that I’ve ever seen. His dexterity with a skateboard must be unmatched, it is positively incredible.

Evie Poking Tongues & Funny Noises

Al — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:55:53 +0000

Another game Claire and I play with Evie, in addition to blowing raspberries, is gesturing to her to poke her tongue out. It didn’t take Evie very long to realise what we were on about and she began poking her tongue out and making a little noise to go with it.

Having trouble viewing the embedded video, watch Evie Lattimore Poking Her Tongue Out on YouTube.

Evie Blowing Raspberries

Al — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:43:27 +0000

A while ago Evie realised that she could blow raspberries, however recently it has become a bit of a game we play together – we blow a few raspberries, she laughs and then starts blowing raspberries back at us – hilarious!

Having trouble viewing the embedded video above, watch Evie Lattimore Blowing Raspberries on YouTube.