In Episode 4 of the Maker Hangar series, Lucas Weakley teaches us about lithium polymer, or li-po, batteries, used in R/C aircraft. Lucas covers the numbers and letters that classify these batteries, how to determine where to place the battery for balancing the plane, charging the batteries, and safety concerns.
This Paper Pulp Helmet by Bobby Petersen, Tom Gottelier and Edward Thomas is made from recycled paper and designed for short-term use so that it can be recycled again!
Maker Hangar is a 15-part video series by Lucas Weakley. In Episode 3 of the Maker Hangar series, Lucas Weakley breaks down the important role electric speed controllers (ESC) play in RC planes. These components convert DC power into AC power and regulate power to the motor. But it’s important to pair the appropriate ESC to the […]
Turn rotational momentum into AC electricity, then convert the AC charges into a steady stream of 5V DC to charge your phone or other mobile device while bicycling! We call this project the Pedal Power Phone Charger. It’s the latest addition to our series of Weekend Projects powered by RadioShack.
With the goal of illustrating “the simplicity that alternative energy vehicles could embody,” George Schnakenberg curated and built The Sleeper Bike, an electric motor-assisted bicycle that also sports a stylish look. The San Francisco-based design director handmade the leather battery bag and retrofitted the bike frame with a Hill Topper electric bike kit from Clean […]
In Episode 2 of the Maker Hangar series, Lucas Weakley walks us through the motors used in R/C hobby aircraft, the propellers that go with these motors, and why their sizes matter.
Interaction designer Jasper van Loenen created a kit for turning everyday objects into drones. He 3D printed clamping mounts for four motors and an enclosure for all the electronics (4 ESCs, a receiver, bluetooth module, and OpenPilot CC3D control board). By clamping the kit to, say, a bike wheel, you can turn it into a drone!
