h a l f b a k e r yFewer ducks than estimates indicate.
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Autonomous Beach Dung Beetle Roller Roomba consists
of a large and very heavy metal ball covered with sharp
spikes, with a groove running around its circumference.
This groove is to faciliate the enagement with the
driving mechanism that pushes it around.
For our purposes, we use a mechanical
dung beetle as
the power for the roomba.
Once activated, off it goes wandering randomly around
the beach, skewering and collecting all manner of litter
on a variety of spikes, and prongs that feature suction
ends.
Periodically Roomba Roller returns to a docking station,
where it turns sideways and spins at high speed, causing
the captive litter to be flung off and captured.
Roomba Roller is dangerous, so sleeping on the beach etc
while it's in action is not advisable.
Domestic Lego and sock pick version under development.
[link]
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How big is it? Maybe 3m diameter? With 1m needle-sharp polished steel spikes? |
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How do you get the pronged items off the prongs? |
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A giant bouncing white latex balloon would be more fun. |
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A sticky surface could be used so unwanted beach detritus
adheres to it & it would regularly return to a bath of
mild
solvent to deposit the collected items then bounce to
another bath of fresh adhesive & back off around the beach
again .. something like morphex in a semi inflated
zorb
or similar with an appropriately textured & coloured latex
skin might do the trick. |
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It should be programmed to chase beach goers for
that authentic 'The Prisoner' feel of course. |
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Straw boaters &
umbrellas with varicoloured panels would
be issued to beach goers as they arrive. |
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Wouldn't a sticky surface become quickly covered with sand? |
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If the spikes were in regimented rows then when back at the docking
station long metal rods could extend into the spaces between the
spikes to rip out impacted items. |
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Alternatively, a practical use for Straandbeest. |
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That .. may be a problem. |
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[Stomps back to the drawing board muttering angrily under
his breath] |
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[Rushes back from the drawing board with every evidence
of excitement] |
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//How do you get the pronged items off the
prongs?// This is achieved at the docking station
by a combination of prong retraction and the rapid
spinning action. |
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...throwing everything eventually back onto the beach... |
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Bun if they also vocalize a robotic 'EXTERMINATE' while doing
so... |
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