Remember the Rubiks cube? I used to spend hours trying to solve that puzzle when I was a kid. Brando is offering a new puzzle challenge. It’s the Gear Wheel IQ Cube. As you turn the sides, gears cause other pieces to rotate. I was never any good at figuring out the Rubiks cube (till I found the solution) and I doubt I’d be able to figure out this puzzle either. But it looks fun to try and the price is only $11.90.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Puzzle, Spotlight Gadgets

Gear Wheel IQ Cube – A Rubiks Cube for Gadgeteers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 18, 2010 at 9:00 am.

I’ve loved playing with magnets since I was a kid. I remember that anytime something in the house would break that might have a motor in it, I would snatch it out of the trash, dismantle it and retrieve the magnets from the motor. I even had a little metal fishing tackle box with tools and scavenged magnets that I kept under my bed. I was an odd child. ) Now that I’m an adult, I’m still odd and I still love  magnets. That’s why I was really excited to be able to review two magnetic puzzle sets. One from NeoCube and one from CyberCube.

CyberCube

The CyberCube is made of 216, 6mm, Neodymium spherical magnets otherwise known as rare earth magnets.

It comes packaged in a simple but nice presentation box in the shape of a 6×6 cube. Unlucky for me, the CyberCube was shipped to my day job and when my boss saw it, he took it out of the box and wrecked the cube shape. At the time, I didn’t know how to get it back into that shape. I actually had to email the company and ask for directions so that I could take the image that you see above. )

Each magnet is about the size of a BB. These magnets are extremely strong and it takes a bit of effort to detach one from the group. Often, when you pull one magnet, you come away with a whole string. In a weird way, it almost makes the group of magnets feel like one living thing.

What’s the purpose of these magnet sets? There isn’t one really… It’s a fidget object. Something to keep your hands and mind busy when you’re bored or need a break from some other task. You can make all sorts of shapes. Above you see a cube in process.

Impressive huh? The videos on  the CyberCube site make this lowly cube look like nothing.

If you set this on your desk at work, people won’t be able to help themselves and will have to pick it up. It’s as if it were a magnet. Sorry, couldn’t resist ;o)

Price: $39.99

NeoCube

NeoCube is another magnet set that uses rare earth magnets. It doesn’t come in a nice box like the CyberCube, but you do get a few extra magnets just in case you lose a few. While CyberCube only sells one set of magnets, NeoCube has a 6×6 cube set (216 magnets) which they call the NeoCube Alpha set and a NeoCube Mini set, that can create a 3×3 cube (27 magnets). You can also buy both sets together if you’re a complete magnet maniac.

Besides the difference in the the number of magnets per set, the only other difference between the NeoCube and CyberCube is the size of each magnet. The NeoCube magnets are smaller.

I didn’t have a set of calipers handy to measure the exact size, but here you see the CyberCube 6×6 cube on the Left and the NeoCube 6×6 on the right.

The NeoCube magnets perform the same as the CyberCube magnets in that you can create all sorts of shapes with them.

So far the shapes that I try to create are super lame. But both the CyberCube and NeoCube sites have videos with someone showing how to create things. They make it look so easy ;o) It’s really not that easy for me – at least not yet.

Price: Alpha and Mini set $34.95, Alpha set $29.95, Mini set $13.95

Summary

Which set should you buy? The combination Alpha / Mini set from NeoCube is the better buy because you get 35 more magnets than the CuberCube set for a cheaper price. The only issue might be the size of the magnets… the Neo’s are smaller. Heck, buy a set from both company’s and then go wild and stick them altogether! Regardless as to which set you might choose, they will keep you entertained for hours and make a great gift for your favorite geek. Anyone else out there have a “thing” for magnets?

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: magnets, Puzzle, Toy

NeoCube and CyberCube Neodymium Magnet Sets Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 16, 2008 at 9:00 am.

A Perplexing Positional Puzzle for Patient
Persons

I’m a gadgeteer.  It’s
true.  Sometimes I have to have the latest and greatest no matter the cost
(financial ouch).  So why am I so impressed about this $15 borderline electronic
device?  Read on, I dare you!

I saw this ingenious contraption at a friend’s
house.  The online photo does not do it justice, but essentially you have a
roughly oval sphere made of hard clear plastic.  Inside are a variety of plastic
colored ramps and whoozits, and the star of the
whole thing is a shiny gold toned ball.  In a nutshell, this is an update of the
classic wooden labyrinth – you know, the wooden box
with two knobs where you roll the ball around the maze.

The thought behind the
SuperPlexus (by Hasbro) is evident. 
There are three “levels” and you can choose any of them by positioning the ball
to start at the appropriate “gate.”  Note, that completing one level
automatically puts you in position as if you started from the next level.  The
ball’s path is shown by small circles revealing numbered “steps” and an arrow
showing how to go.  Often, the next step is to rotate the sphere upside down or
some other way to move your friendly ball along.

There are a total of 100 steps to go from complete
beginning to end.  The first 25 or so steps (level 1) are fairly easy – there
are “guide rails” for much of the level, so as long as you give it a fair effort
you should be alright.  Level 2 gets harder, and I’ve only made it around ½
way through, and Level 3 is laughably difficult.  The
levels are made harder, by having shorter (or no) guide rails. 

Early on in Level 2, if you make it past a
deceptively difficult part, you are rewarded by having your ball go along the
long yellow curved ramp, (#31 or so), and you then find yourself well on your
way to #35, where the ball sits in a yellow cup, and you then tilt the sphere to
make the cup swing to the next stage.  Enjoy it while you can, for you will
likely hear the sound of your ball falling off and hitting the sphere, yet
again.  At around #66, you go around a large spiral in the center of the sphere,
and when the ball makes it to the center of the “black hole” it then drops into
a waiting “bucket.”  The bucket pivots, and you rotate the sphere upside down to
cause the ball to drop to the other side of the spiral.  It is ingenious
engineering and planning like the above that keep me coming back for more.

The SuperPlexus
takes 3 AAA batteries, which I am basically using as
a storage area until one of my TV remotes runs low.  Powering the sphere results
in a few flashing lights, and a horrible sound like a
beating heartbeat that makes me more nervous than I usually am.  There are some
electrical contacts within the game, to run as a timer and ensure you don’t
cheat – you can’t get to a certain point without triggering the appropriate
contact.  All in all, you don’t need the electronics.  You can toggle the sound
on and off.  I would have used the electronics more if there were contacts
though out the game, with gratifying sounds/lights for various
“accomplishments,” but that could have well doubled the cost of the game. To
“win” per the instructions, you must complete each level within the allotted
time, and make it all the way through to the end.  I sincerely doubt it is
possible, but I really don’t, as this is a wonderfully devious maze.  It does
have a high frustration level, and I can see myself playing with it for 10
minutes at a time, every few days, for the years to come.

It is recommended for ages 8 and up.  My 11 month
old daughter likes to roll it on the floor (it’s a bit heavy, but durable, and
the rolling ball makes a bit of noise).  Even my wife has been caught playing
with it from time to time.

I have seen it online at amazon.com for about $13
plus shipping, up to around $30 on some other sites.  The missus found it at
KayBee at our mall for about $15, which is cheaper
than just about any accessory I’ve ever bought for my iPAQ. 
If you have $15 in your pocket and you visit this site, you will likely want one
of these.  It’s more fun than all the gum in the world, and a lot cheaper.
 

Price: $13 – $30

Pros:
Incredibly
well thought out
Easy to play, hard to master
Appeals to all ages
Repeat playability
Reasonably priced
60 day money back guarantee

Cons:

High frustration factor
Could use more electrical contacts and lights

Filed in categories: Geek Toys

Tagged: Puzzle, Toy

SuperPlexus Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 2, 2003 at 12:00 am.

Product Requirements:
Device:
PalmPilot Personal, PalmPilot
Professional, IBM WorkPad, Palm III, Palm V, Palm Vx, Palm VII?
100K+ free RAM
Desktop:
N/A

Introduction

Robots just might be the next big thing, hobby robots are at the "Apple
II" stage right now. Between the $2500 Sony Aibo
and BattleBots,  robots are
starting to get a lot of attention.  I have been interested in robots for a
while and I have used the Lego Mindstorms
kit as an interview tool in my job for hiring semiconductor Applications Engineers
("just build/program something, you have two hours; have fun!").  
When I heard about the
PPRK,  I had to play with one.

The Palm Pilot Robot Kit (PPRK)
gives a new meaning to the term "mobile."  Developed at the Carnegie
Mellon University Robots Institute by
freshman Grigoriy Reshko and Dr. Matt Mason, the PPRK is a small robotics platform
that uses the Palm as the brains of the robot.   Is the PPRK a real robot
or just an expensive toy?  The answer is yes!

Assembly

I purchased the PPRK Palm V Barebones kit from Acroname
in Boulder, CO.  Acroname has a license from CMU to sell the robot and they
have substantially improved the original design. The shipment was prompt and one
missing part (DB9 connector) was shipped out next-day at no charge.  I have
subsequently built a second robot with some upgraded parts that required a
special order with Acroname.  The customer service and tech support in both
orders has been outstanding – these folks are a class act!  

The barebones kit definitely requires some basic mechanical skills and the
ability to read and follow directions.  The assembly
instructions are comprehensive and complete. You need to modify (barebones
kit) and mount the servos and sensors, build the chassis, build (barebones) and
mount the Palm cable, and mount the controller and battery.  The barebones
kit is probably not for a 10 year old but anyone who has built an R/C Plane or
PC from scratch should not have any problems.  Acroname also makes an
"easy"
kit if you don’t want to tinker.

What Is It and What Does It Do?

The PPRK is an autonomous robot, that means it is controlled by it’s own
on-board computer as opposed to Battlebots which have someone with a radio
control unit driving during the fight.  The kit comes with a servo control
(Pontech SV203
or http://www.pontech.com) module that connects to the Palm via RS-232.  It
has the ability to control 8 independent servos and also has 5 analog-to-digital
inputs.  The PPRK uses 3 of the servo channels for the wheels and 3 of the
A/D inputs for infrared distance sensors.  Model radio control servos that are
modified to rotate continuously drive the wheels.  The wheels (omni-wheels)
are unique in
that they allow motion in two directions simultaneously.   This allows
the robot to move and rotate at the same time (or holonomically
- you almost have to see it to understand…). 
Charger and NiMH batteries are included.

Given that you have the power of (and already own…) a Palm as the
"brains" of the PPRK, sophisticated programs for controlling the robot
can be written.  There are a number of programs at Acroname and CMU that
allow the robot to follow and map walls or follow a drawing on the Palm screen. Sample programs exist in
C/C++ and HotPaw Basic. The C/C++ examples at CMU are written to use Metroworks
CodeWarrior but they don’t compile out of the box with the trial version . 
Any Palm programming environment that can talk to the serial port could be
used  to develop for the PPRK.  My primary project is to build a Java
library for the PPRK in either Sun KVM or IBM VisualAge.  With the
additional unused servo ports you could add grippers and with the A/D inputs you could,
for example,  add a compass
for dead-reckoning navigation.

Conclusion

There are a number of robot kits on the market and all look
interesting.  Some very sophisticated robots have even been built with the
Lego Mindstorms.  Though I like the Mindstorms, it just didn’t feel like
"real" robotics.  The PPRK does not have all of the mechanical
flexibility of Legos but it is a much closer to the real-world robots are
operated, both mechanical and electrically.  Given that my Palm V is
smarter than my Mac Plus that got me through college,  some serious
research is possible. The possibilities for expansion with the servos, sensors, the I/R in the Palm, or even
wireless with the Palm VII make the PPRK a good base for serious
experimentation.  There is a budding
community of owners and I expect this to be a good platform for hobbyists
and students that will be around a while.

Price: $259 – $305

Pros:
Well-designed and reasonably sophisticated kit for robot experimentation
You already own the "brains"
Great customer support and community!
People won’t laugh at you for playing with your kid’s Legos
Some assembly required

Cons:
R2D2 or Bender it is not
Some assembly required
Orange plastic wheels skid (get the green
Poly wheels!)
You spent $275 on what for your Palm!?

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous

Tagged: Puzzle, Toy

Palm Pilot Robot Kit (PPRK) Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2001 at 12:00 am.