You may recall the bizarre back-mounted K’nex gattling gun from all the way back in September 2008; K’nex builders obviously have a secret fetish for homemade weaponry, as another has put together this working replica of an AK-47 assault rifle. Not something you’d find in the K’nex instruction book, perhaps, but a pretty close impersonation of the real thing all the same.
Remember that entertaining-yet-disturbing video of three Taser employees being taken down by the company’s latest “less lethal” weapon? Well, the device responsible is the Taser X3, capable of firing three cartridges without reloading together with putting on an intimidating “warning arc” lightshow without requiring the cartridges’ removal first.
Working in the Taser office has to be one of the more unusual places you can put on your CV, especially when under “key duties” you can list “three-way tase subject”. The company has released a video demonstrating their latest “less lethal” device, the X3, which is capable of not one but three shots in short-succession with simultaneous application of up to 400 to 1,200 volts.
Video demo after the cut
For most of us, the biggest ATM frustration is either the machine being out of cash or deciding to eat your card. In South Africa, you could end up with a face full of pepper-spray. Driven to extreme measures by the rising attacks on cash machines by South African armed robbers, some banks are fitting pepper sprays that are triggered if a camera spots you tampering with the card slots. Unfortunately for one ATM technician last week, that trigger isn’t foolproof.
If you’re going to build a DIY replica of a game weapon, then you may as well pick a big one. Indecently-talented cosplay costume maker Hyokenseisou spent around 100 hours over just five days putting together this Resistance 2 Marksman rifle, complete with illuminated ammo counter and detachable clip.
We’ve seen automated guns and remote-control weapons here on SlashGear before, but this Nerf Sentry Gun is particularly slick. Designed and created by Jason Wright and Jeremy Blum as part of their robotics class at Cornell, the sentry uses a webcam to authenticate ID badges; if your name isn’t on the list then, like Finland in Eurovision 2009, you’re shot down.
Video demo after the cut
We obviously don’t advocate DIY violence here at SlashGear, but we do have a soft-spot for homemade coilguns with trick LED lighting and bulging capacitors. This particular beauty is the handiwork of Daniel Eindhoven, who spent around 40hrs and €100 putting together a semi-automatic gun capable of firing up to 14 shots at speeds up to 110km/h (68mph).
Hacking together remote control weaponry seems to be a common pastime, and incorporating a nice, innocent Wiimote an ideal way to aim it. Jay decided his office was missing an airsoft robot with IP webcam and internet-based remote control, so put together the pretty intimidating setup you see here.
Video demos after the cut
When the robots come for you, first they try nets and then it’s the lasers. Thankfully the Tmsuk T-34 only comes equipped with the former – at least for the moment – being in effect a remote-controlled car with an integrated net launcher. Designed by a Japanese robotics company in conjunction with a security firm, the Tmsuk T-34 is operated via a cellphone with live video feedback.
Video demo of the net-firing T-34 robot after the cut
We’re seeing more and more DIY electronics projects based on Arduino and ioBridge microprocessor modules here on SlashGear, as people discover how straightforward it can be to put together ostensibly complex prototypes. For instance, how about an affordable moving airsoft target range, for some indoor shooting practise: Arduino and ioBridge based, it’s all controlled through a custom iPod touch web interface, so that nobody has to draw the short-straw and enter the line of fire to get things going.
Check out the demo video after the cut
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