#self-balancing

[stevebattle]

Fat Albert (2005) by Ted Larson and Bob Allen, OLogic, CA, USA. Fat Albert, built in 2005, is a forerunner of AMPbot that could get up on its own from lying on the floor. "Fat Albert had a unique mechanism and software implementation that allowed for transitioning from the floor to standing and then back to the floor again. We applied for multiple patents on the whole setup and have kept them active over the years, but we still haven’t figured out what to do with them. If you have an idea, let me know!" – Ted Larson, From HomeBrew to Hasbro How two friends hacked a balancing robot and wrote a toy story of their own.

[eltristanexplicitcontent]

Nothing new in self-balancing monorails? Tired of vaporware that will never work? Solve that pesky problem of what to do with trains traveling opposite directions? or of never being scheduled for when you want them??

Ymmv. But I'm personally more excited about MONOCAB's OWL self-balancing monorail project than anything Parallel Systems has come up with yet and certainly waaaaay more better than any Hyperl‰p...

[yaolmao]

au; Kid is a bit less orderly than how Death made him to be. Or Kid and Blackstar are mad

Dialogue in Yukio Mishima, Confessions of a Mask (pg.82)

[techsmarts]

I have a fondness for self balancing robots and this one is a lot more stable than the little one I built

[thepeacefulgarden]

[lucabyte]

my favourite big-hatted not-men with giant holes in their brains where their memories should be (and their kinda-dead doubles called loop/lup)

+bonus doodles because thinking about the taz balance cast for 0.2 seconds reminded me how much i like themmmm

[ourslutfactory]

Queen of the night

[glowettee]

✧ how i stay productive during summer break (while still having fun!) ✧

hey lovelies! ✨

summer break is finally here and honestly? it's my favorite time to both relax and get things done. i know that sounds contradictory but trust me, finding that sweet balance between productivity and fun is totally possible! after years of either doing absolutely nothing or burning myself out, i've finally found my perfect summer rhythm.

first things first: the morning routine ✨

i've learned that my day flows so much better when i start it intentionally. i wake up around 8 or 9 (not too early because we deserve some extra sleep!), make my bed immediately (small win!), and spend 15 minutes journaling before checking my phone. this tiny habit has literally changed everything for me.

my summer morning essentials:

iced coffee with oat milk and a tiny bit of vanilla

a cute journal that makes me excited to write in it

10 minutes of stretching by my window

a super quick skincare routine (sunscreen is non-negotiable!)

creating a flexible structure 🤍

the secret to summer productivity is having just enough structure without feeling trapped. i divide my days into three parts:

morning: productive focus time (2-3 hours max) afternoon: flexible time for errands, friends, or projects evening: pure relaxation and fun

this way, i never feel like i'm missing out or falling behind. the key is being realistic about what you can actually accomplish in a day. i used to make these impossible to-do lists and then feel awful when i couldn't finish them.

my productivity non-negotiables:

i always make sure to do at least one productive thing each day, even if it's small. some of my favorites:

reading 20 pages of a book

organizing one small area of my room

working on a creative project for 30 minutes

learning something new for my blog

planning content or taking photos

balancing productivity with summer fun ✨

here's my little secret: schedule your fun just like you schedule your work! this sounds silly but it actually helps me look forward to both. some of my favorite summer activities that feel refreshing but don't derail my productivity:

morning walks with an audiobook

afternoon picnics where i can also read or brainstorm

coffee shop work dates with friends

sunset swims after a productive day

weekend day trips that recharge my creativity

my favorite productivity tools:

a paper planner (something about writing things down just works better for me)

the forest app to stay off my phone when focusing

aesthetic notion templates for organizing my projects

time blocking in my calendar with cute colors

lo-fi summer playlists that help me concentrate

remembering the why 🤍

summer isn't just about getting things done or having the perfect instagram moments. it's about growing, reflecting, and creating memories that will make you smile in december when it's freezing outside. productivity should support your joy, not replace it!

i've found that my happiest summer days are when i accomplish something meaningful in the morning and then have the freedom to be spontaneous in the afternoon and evening. balance isn't perfect every day, and that's okay too.

what are your favorite ways to stay productive during summer break? i'd love to hear your tips too!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

[stevebattle]

Bender (2002) by Ted Larson and Bob Allen, CA, USA. Bender is the first incarnation of the self-balancing AMPbot concept; Ted & Bob later founded OLogic to promote it.

"Bob had built some combat robots in the past, and we were both excited about working together on more interesting and complicated robotic projects where we could use all three robotics disciplines: mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. Back then, my mechanical engineering skills were severely lacking. Robot-suitable mechanical parts were hard to come by, but combat robot parts were more readily available due to their popularity on TV at the time. 

I had a pile of these parts and was eager to put something together. I remember one afternoon going over to Bob’s house to discuss the possibility of doing a collaborative robot project using this parts pile. His first comment was, “Are you crazy? You’re going to destroy your house if you build it with that stuff!” He then showed me a video of a robot that could balance on two wheels, and I thought it was amazing. Plus, it was small and probably wouldn’t destroy my house. Bob and I wondered if we could build something similar. It couldn’t be that hard, right?

Months later, in 2002, Bob and I finally had a set of electronics put together, with the right motors figured out, and we were ready to take a crack at making it balance and drive around. Then came the hard part. Building the robot was one thing, but the software challenge of making it autonomously balance on two wheels was monumental. I think it took a good three months just to get it to not fall over, and many more months to make it drive around. The first robot was named Bender after the lovable beer-drinking robot from Futurama. It fell down so much that it made sense to name it after a robot that was drinking all the time." – Ted Larson, From HomeBrew to Hasbro How two friends hacked a balancing robot and wrote a toy story of their own.

[goosefries]

GRATATATATATA

[chibird]

It's important to be balanced in our pursuits! We can't focus too hard on self care and then not work towards making a better life for ourselves. In the same vein, we shouldn't work so much towards the future that we burn out and can't enjoy today. Life's a balance, and I hope these dancing friends can help keep you grounded!

Chibird store | Positive pin club | Instagram

[pastel-charm-14]

﹥*:ꔫ:*+ﾟprocrastination, begone!﹥*:ꔫ:*+ﾟ

identify your triggers

what causes you to procrastinate? is it fear of failure, perfectionism, boredom, or overwhelm? recognize your triggers so you can address them head-on.

2. break it down

big tasks can feel overwhelming, leading to procrastination. break them down into smaller, manageable steps and tackle them one at a time. progress, no matter how small, is still progress!

3. set clear goals

define specific, achievable goals for yourself and set deadlines. having a clear target to work towards will keep you focused and motivated.

4. create a game plan

plan your day ahead of time and schedule dedicated blocks for tasks. set realistic timelines and hold yourself accountable to them.

5. eliminate distractions

identify distractions in your environment and take steps to minimize them. whether it's turning off notifications, finding a quiet workspace, or using website blockers, create a conducive environment for productivity.

6. use the pomodoro technique

break your work into intervals, typically 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. this technique can help increase focus and productivity while preventing burnout. (this really helps me personally!)

7. practice self-compassion

be kind to yourself when you slip up. we're all human, and occasional bouts of procrastination are normal. instead of dwelling on past procrastination, focus on what you can do right now to move forward.

8. find accountability

share your goals with a friend, family member, or coworker who can help keep you accountable. having someone to check in with can provide an extra boost of motivation.

9. reward yourself

celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. treat yourself to something you enjoy after completing a task or reaching a milestone. positive reinforcement can help reinforce productive habits.

[artilite]

many many isabeaus... and some sloopis's of course :^) !!!!

i like consolidating my doodles so that's probably what i'm going to do for the most part from now on (^^ゞ!

[thepeacefulgarden]