4th Of July Project

4th Of July Parade Projects

We are planning some big things for the 4th of July parade. It's a way off, but let's not get too complacent - some of these projects will need a lot of coordination and more importantly, a lot of (very fun) work. In the end the coolness will be worth it. Here are some ideas people have brainstormed - feel free to step up as a 'project lead', or at least to schedule some work sessions or flesh out the ideas. We should probably use this page as the 'top level' page. Project leaders (project scribes?) can maintain separate project pages with the in-depth design and schedule details.

Theme

We should have a central float, some walkers (band w/ handmade/hacked instruments), and 2 rideable smaller stunt vehicles.

Float

Let's build us a Straandbeest (see this for inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37BsADFmHGU&feature=related)

Chully has stepped up as the leader on this one.

Details

This will be a 16 leg version. Legs will be constructed from 1X4s, and plywood bed/angle iron materials. Nathan has volunteered (soon to be) his house as a construction location.

Crew

• Chully
• Nathan
• Steve

(sign up here, wiki-ites)

Events

March 3, 2011 Some prototyping with cardboard at the March 3rd meeting

Marching Band

This will feature BloomingLabbers and friends playing homemade or circuit bent electronic instruments. This could end up being a real noisy racket, but have you been to the parade? After 4 or 5 ambulance or fire sirens have gone by, any other sound is a welcome change.

We will actually work to come up with a set list. Some possibilities: patriotic Material i.e. Souza, Neil Diamond (we're coming to America), Star Spangled, Metallica’s One, Glen Beck/O’reilly factor theme?

I think Eno's 'Here Come The Warm Jets' would be a fitting song for such a band, although it's not a patriotic tune.

Crew

• Joe
• Steve

Instruments

• Joe's CigarBox Bass
• Circuit Bent toys (perhaps have a workshop soon?)
• 8 bit synths
• Atari Punk Consoles
• Steve's Arduino/SD Card/DAC sound file player project
• Drumming with the smoke ring cannons

Questions

How to handle amplification for these? Everybody has their own portable amp? Barry's speaker backpack system?

Mini Vehicles

Details

We could use these to distribute flyers, maybe even pull some shriner moves, i.e. wheelies, donuts, 360s, driving synchronized circles around each other, other floats, intersections , Rockford Files.

The main idea that has come up is a rideable BeetleBot, controlled by handgrip antennas, using a PWM foot control(let off foot control, machine stops).

Materials wise among other things we need Electric Motors, and I believe Jenett has indicated she has some good ones we can use.

Crew

• Jenett
• Nick
• Joe