Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:35 — 10.1MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
From the birth of wireless, to the first industrial robot—it’s about time we put these robots to work.
Continue reading Ep 319: Hey robot, get a job!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:38 — 12.3MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
The discovery of vacuum was strangely pivotal in the history of science and technology. From steam engines to electronics, we talk about the power of nothing.
Continue reading Ep 318: Much to say about nothing
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:53 — 16.2MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
One of the earliest things humanity automated was the moving of liquids—irrigation, draining mines, and removal of waste. From five-thousand years ago to today, we take a look at pumps, plumbing, and some of the weirdness of water.
Continue reading Ep 317: Pumps, plumbing, and weird water
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
From prehistory to the industrial revolution, we take a look at metal working and mining.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:25 — 13.4MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Along with the beginnings of springs and wire, we take a look at some more automatons. Included is the 18th century chess playing mechanical Turk.
Continue reading Ep 315: Wires, springs, and mechanical marvels
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:43 — 13.8MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Starting more than 2000 years ago, people have been creating machines that resemble animals and humans. Powered by water, compressed air, springs or falling weights, these automatons thrilled and amazed spectators.
Continue reading Ep 314: Ancient robots
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:12 — 13.2MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
To build your bot, you’ll need some bits. Today we talk about wheels pulleys and gears—where and when they happen, and how and why to use them.
Continue reading Ep 313: Why are we turning?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:28 — 10.6MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
We finish up “building brain bits for bots based on big beasties,” and move on to some things that have to do with actual robots. Searching for the beginnings of the technology, we do make a short visit to the stone age.
Continue reading Ep 312: That’s not a machine!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:03 — 15.3MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
We begin a series on robotics and automation with a look at your host’s on going project on how to build a brain for a bot. After years of research, it turns out that bigger is better.
special thanks to @EliaMagrinelli and @mattparlmer.
Continue reading Ep 311: Building brain bits for bots based on big beasties
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:01 — 16.2MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
For our last episode on space and space travel, we take a look at the private business based space programs.
Continue reading Ep 310: Dreams and schemes in space