Monthly Archives: July 2012

So, you think you’ve got some mean Lego-building skill? You better bring that and more to the Brick Challenge Game Show in Anderson Theater at Maker Faire Detroit this weekend.

Maker Nick Britsky’s alter ego “Nick Brickly” hosts the fast-paced multi-challenge game show that tests contestants’ knowledge, skill and strategy as two teams face off in the first-ever game show centered on everyone’s favorite building block.

An avid Lego collector and one of the founding members of the i3 Detroit hacker space – Nick combines Legos with making and is bringing that fun and spirit with him to Maker Faire Detroit.

The double-dare style Brick Challenge is Saturday and Sunday, with shows starting at 11:30 a.m., 12:15 , 1:00 and 1:45 p.m. in  Henry Ford Museum’s Anderson Theater. Here’s a look at a promo for the show.

What’s a little friendly competition among Makers? Some crazy hacking fun!

With a limit of $500 spent on modifying a kid’s Power Wheels car – hacker spaces race for the championship in the 2012 Power Racing Series.

The innovative racing series makes engineering entertaining and approachable. The goal of the Power Racing Series is to advance technology education and encourage people to try something new. (And have a good time, too.)

The first of this year’s series was in Kansas City – and next is right here in at Maker Faire Detroit at The Henry Ford. Who will take home the cup?

Check out some more cool video from last year’s Maker Faire Detroit race, highlights from last month’s Kansas City contest and a clip about Power Racing Series and education.

 

Student’s from the International Academy of Design & Technology Detroit will showcase work at Maker Faire Detroit from the many art, design and technology-related disciplines taught at the Troy, Mich., campus.

Students who participated in the school’s National Library Week competition will display some of there clever creations requiring the use of recycled/repurposed materials – including Rupert the Robot shown above.

Students from the fashion design track will showcase some of the recycled dresses they debuted at Fashion in Detroit Week. There will be video and production displays, a video-game making display, and graphic and digital media displays, and a scale model of a park built by an interior design student. Beth Rogers, Learning Resource Center Specialist tells more about IADT’s plans in the following Maker Minute.

 

 

Take a look at some of the items that during Maker Faire Detroit will be brought to the floor of the museum from the collections at The Henry Ford. Below, senior conservator Clara Deck explains the workings of a spectacular musical mechanical contraption: The Violano Virtuouso – built in 1927.

The team at Brooklyn Aerodrome is all about getting folks making and flying. They are makers of a DIY R/C aircraft dubbed the “Towel.” An adventure that started as an art project gone bad has led them to the cover of this month’s issue of Make: magazine.

Breck Baldwin and designer and artist-in-residence Karen King pilot the program that exhibits at Maker Faires and goes out schools, businesses, camps and more. They also hold classes right in their studio in Brooklyn, New York. They take Makers flying in the park early in the morning or later in the evening. Their website and blog link to some very cool video, including aerial shots.

Breck explained, “It’s all about getting you flying airplanes that you build from pieces of junk.” Items like recycled signs, old coat hangers and cloth, etc., are some of the things he mentioned. There’s about $100 of electronics gear needed (if you buy it yourself). He said you can build it in an afternoon or two and then go fly it. He added makers will be able to “crash it a bunch, repair it, and go fly it some more.”

Brooklyn Aerodrome is one of the 400 Makers who will be at Maker Faire Detroit, July 28-29, at The Henry Ford.