Awesome Tech

Engineer James Bruton has built a variety of interesting robotic vehicles over the years, including an omnidirectional tank that moved around on three tracks. But that design had difficulty climbing uneven terrain, so he took his readers’ suggestions on the track design and made an improved version that’s a bit more agile.

One of the more entertaining engineering projects we’ve seen is that useless robot that un-flips its switches as soon as they’re flipped. Maker B created a similarly useless machine by fabricating a robotic joystick that records and plays back its user’s movements. The build process is impressive, but if you’re short on time, skip to 16:08 to see it in action.

We hate when we get snack dust between the keys on our computer keyboards. This convenient kit includes multiple brushes for getting into cracks and crevices, along with a keycap puller, polishing cloths, a cleaning spray, and a lens cleaning pen for cameras. It all fits into a carrying case with a retractable main brush.

There’s a trend on TikTok where people have posted videos of typically populous locations that appear utterly devoid of people. They’re images straight out of dystopian science fiction, but they’re not real. Captain Disillusion explains the VFX techniques that go into producing these convincing “Empty World” illusions.

Most of the best (and all of the cheapest) flat-screen TVs need an external soundbar for a movie theater experience at home. A premium 36” sound bar and wireless subwoofer like the two-component TCL Q Class Q6310 does the trick, delivering 350 watts of audio power for an economical price.

Pelican’s Marine Phone Pouch protects smartphones while kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying other outdoor activities. It’s IP68-certified waterproof and features built-in air cushions to help it float. A transparent face allows touchscreen use, and a clever design provides side button access. It’s also available in an XL size and multipacks.

Bosch’s FlexiClick cordless 12V Drill/Driver System is compact yet incredibly versatile, thanks to its modular design. It has two speed settings, a built-in LED light, and comes with a keyless chuck, a locking bit holder, a right angle attachment, and an offset angle attachment.

Non-player characters (NPCs) in games are often quite stupid. But this video from TMARTN2 shows how they’re about to get much smarter. Combining voice recognition, voice synthesis, and an AI large language model, Replica Studios’ Smart NPCs carry out real-time, non-scripted conversations. It’s early days for the tech, but it’s a glimpse into the future.

Game controller makers 8bitdo are now making keyboards in the style of 8-bit game consoles. Their 87-key mechanical keyboards are inspired by the NES and its Japanese counterpart, the Famicom, and come with a programmable dual “Super Button.” Compatible with Windows and Android devices via Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, or wired connections.

In general, electronics and water don’t mix. DIY Perks shows how it’s possible to build a water-cooled PC that can be submerged underwater. He started with power-hungry PC components, then built a water-tight acrylic and copper case with copper cooling pipes that flow water around the pricey computer inside. The finished system looks incredible.

The electromechanical band known as Device Orchestra returns with another fun cover song. They used just three instruments to replicate the AC/DC track Thunderstruck. This time, the electric toothbrushes and credit card terminal are running on battery power, so they really should just be called DC.

The Konnected Joe ceramic charcoal grill and smoker features a pushbutton automatic fire starter, a digital display for setting temperatures from 225º to 700ºF, and Wi-Fi remote monitoring. A digitally-controlled fan helps regulate temperature and airflow, and its grill surface is big enough to cook 13 burgers at once.

The data that Google Maps has amassed is pretty amazing. Bad Decisions Studio shows us how it’s possible to use the Google Maps API and Cesium to bring the power of its global data into Unreal Engine 5 to add your own lighting and make high-fidelity 3D renderings of any location on the planet.

Heath Ledger’s performance as Joker in The Dark Knight is legendary. Thanks to deepfake technology, we can now see what his performance might have looked like had Heath not been wearing any makeup. GdaTyler VFX put together this video which used an AI trained on the actor’s uncovered face. It’s far from perfect, but it’s still fascinating to watch.

The MuteKit by On Air Warning aims to improve video calls. The MuteSwitch is a three-button, illuminated keypad with buttons to mute/unmute your microphone, camera, or both. The On Air Warning light indicates when your camera and mic are live, while MuteBar software puts the controls front-and-center and lets you freeze your image as an “instant selfie.”

The Alpha 6700 is the latest in Sony’s compact mirrorless camera line has a 26MP APS-C sensor that shoots oversampled 6K/4K video at 60 FPS, 4K video at up to 120 FPS, 1080p at 240 FPS, and pro-quality stills at up to 11 FPS. AI tech improves tracking and object recognition for perfect focus. Available body only, with a 16-50mm or 18-135mm power zoom lens.

Inspired by a Tech Ingredients video that claimed that a couple of pieces of foam board and inexpensive audio exciters were the “World’s Best Speakers,” AmplifyDIY decided to put the design to the test. It’s hard to know how they sound in person, but he certainly was impressed at the audio that $60 worth of parts can produce.

The DaptKey keypad is ideal for improving creative workflows. It has 20 keys and five knobs which can be programmed to operate application shortcuts, macros, and slider inputs. A bright OLED screen sits beneath all the controls and can display icons for each. Control software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

This unique musical instrument combines a synthesizer, a looper, and a MIDI controller. It has 12 capacitive sensing pads, a bridge for strumming and tapping notes, as well as an accelerometer and gyroscope for gesture-based input. It has drum, bass, chord, and lead modes, and a built-in speaker and 3.5mm audio jack lets you play without external equipment.

We rarely need to print things these days. But for the first 40+ years of personal computing, printers were commonplace. And they were some of the most frustrating pieces of equipment ever. The book Shitty Printers catalogs and rips apart some of the worst offenders, from cheap home inkjets to menacing tractor-feed machines.

The Fumpa Pump is a tiny air compressor for inflating bicycle tires. It outputs up to 120 psi and recharges through a micro USB port. The Fumpa fills up to six tires per charge. The space-saving miniFumpa can fill two tires per charge, while the nanoFumpa does one or two tires up to 110 psi. All three are compatible with Schrader, Presta, and Dunlop valves.

The whole point of a laptop computer is that it’s portable. That didn’t stop makers Evan and Katelyn from building a laptop that’s so ridiculously large that you need two people to carry it. It has a 43-inch display, an oversize keyboard and runs on batteries. They should try and borrow Glarses’ giant keyboard.

Whether you’re into extreme outdoor adventures or are just plain clumsy, never worry about dropping your phone again. The Nite Ize Hitch Plus places a mount point between your phone’s back and case, then tethers it to a carabiner with a 24″ coiled line that you can attach to a belt loop, bag, or wrist.