How it all started -The
UPS guy had just delivered my B9 Robot Torso, so I was committed to the
project. Well actually, it a was my wife that thought I should be
committed.
It seemed like such a big project, but with all the info and resources
available and help from other Lost in Space fans, I figured that I
could handle it. It was a challenge to see how accurate it could
be, without breaking the bank. |
I had a reporter contact me a
few weeks ago. Apparently he came across my web site and wanted to
do a newspaper article on me in our small local newspaper. It turned out
pretty good. Click on the picture to read the entire article.
Tell me what you think.
Funny thing is that's twice
now my wife has called me crazy, in print!
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While it wouldn't be accurate down to
the last screw, I believed I can conjure up a reasonable likeness that will
be recognizable to most fans of the series.
I'm an Electrical Engineer, so I
figured I could handle
the electronics. It was the mechanical aspects of building the B9 that
would challenge me. I chronicled my progress on these
web pages with continuous updates of my progress. You can click on the
different sections above in the banner to see how I built it from (almost)
scratch
About Me -Who is this guy?
You can email me at
New Silicone Rubber
Mold Making How-to Guide. I decided to put
together some guide lines for hobby mold making and plastic resin casting.
This is will not cover plastic injection molding but rather the type of molding
you can do at home. It's a collections of tips I've learned along the way. Check it out!
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Robot Updates
The most recent improvement to my B9 robot is the addition of some
wonderful software written by members of the B9 Robot Builders Club.
The software is called the
iB9 Interactive Voice program. Essentially it allows you to have
your B9 interact with people in real-time.
It works kind of like the Wizard in the Wizard of OZ. You
run the software on a laptop that is interfaced with your B9 sound system.
I have a 20 ft. audio cable that runs into the rear vent of the torso and
connects to my audio amplifier. You can select different phrases
and responses allowing you to have a conversation with a real person.
The original voice of the robot, Dick Tufeld, provided over 400 custom
phrases. Some are classic sayings and some are very humorous. More
to come.
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Forbes FYI Magazine
did an article on building a B9 Robot in their June 20th issue. A while
ago I did phone interview with the writer. He also interviewed several
other B9 Robot Builders Club members. The article is pretty good and
doesn't make us look like fools. I would have preferred a different title,
but that's the only fault I have it. Forbes FYI Magazine is a supplement
to the regular Forbes Magazine and is published every other month.
Another successful Halloween
came and went. Not as many parent were tagging along with their kids
so I didn't have as many comments. This year I hid a camera inside of
a bird house that is next to the front steps, trying to catch some reactions
and comments. It was fun hearing some of the comments.
 I
set up the robot a few days ahead of time so that I cold install my new
rubber treads. They look great. now that Halloween
is over I have to move him back down to the basement. I've been redoing
my basement and I have a new black & white checkered floor and a perfect spot
picked out for him.
 Lost
in Space - Season 3 - Vol. 1 DVD's now available. They
released season 3 as two separate sets just like season 2. Volume 1 is
now available at Amazon and volume 2 will be out on July 19th. Clicking on the link takes you to
Amazon.
Hey, that's Mark Goddard
and me on the flight deck of the Jupiter II. I met Mark at a recent Lost
In Space fest and he posed with me in front of the control console. 
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Build your own
Twilight Zone
Mystic Seer Replica
or I'll build one for you!
Twilight Zone
Mystic Seer
Replica
Learn how I constructed my very own Mystic Seer and build your own! You
can also purchase a
Devil Head for your Mystic
Seer or 1950's diner Swami Machine.
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Back from Wonderfest
I had a wonderful time meeting other B9 Robot builders
and many fans of the show.
 One
of our club members even built a Jupiter 2 Flight Console. Here I
captured Mark Goddard (Major Don West) goofing in front of the set. He
re-enacted the classic "campy" way they would tilt the camera and run side to
side whenever the ship was hit by asteroids.
Check out more info and pictures from Wonderfest 2005
More Stories
- Page
2
Check out my Brain page to see the
video of my finger
lights and crown in action.! |
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All 156 episodes of the
Twilight Zone TV series have been released on 45 DVDs. They are
split into 5 collections of 9 DVDs each. I have all the episodes in my
Twilight Zone index so you know which collection to buy, just in
case you can't afford them all |
I've added an Internal
Electronics page where I will feature some of the electronic circuits I am
using.
I've decided to redesign and reprogram my Soil Sampler. It
now has a faster motor and new motor controller.
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I finished attaching my Knees to the tread section. Check out my
Knee page for details.
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 I'm
in PRINT!
A new book came out about Robot Building and where to get information if you
want to building your own. It's called the
Robot Builder's Sourcebook.
It is a must-have book for building any type of robot. It
has sources for small motors and gears, plastic and molding materials.
Info on motor controllers and microcontroller. A never ending
resource. It also includes web page links for many amateur robot
builders.
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All controlled by a Basic Stamp micro-controller. It's also remote
controlled.
Check it out.
 I finished the wrist inserts which contain the spring
loaded mechanism for the claws. More details
here Check out my new
RF remote control which I added because my IR
remote control didn't perform as well as I had hoped.
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Bubble Bubble - Toil and
Trouble - Finally drilled my bubble and mounting plate.
Check out the problems I ran into (crack!)
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My site is featured on page 205. I've got my home page pictured and
everything.
How cool is that? If you want to order the book you can click on the link to take you directly
to
Amazon. It lists for $25 but they sell it for much less (about
$16.50).
The Lost in Space crew mugging for the camera.
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 I am going to incorporate many automated features into
the robot such as a rotating torso, a bubble that raises and lowers as well as
actual robot voice with synchronized neon mouth.
Lost In Space Word Search, Find all the Lost In Space
related words. Can you find the mystery word? You will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view the word search.
Be sure to visit my wife's site for
Rug Hooking Patterns
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Reproduction Toy Parts
I've branched off into making reproduction toy parts. Take a peek at what I
offer.
James
Bond - Gilbert Aston Martin Passenger. The
guy that James Bond Ejects through the roof.
Also for the Gilbert Aston Martin Bumper Overriders.
These are the two small bumpers that extend from the front bumper
Rear View Side MirrorsHub Caps - Including the Tire Slasher
Secret Sam - Orange Button.
The one that is always broken.
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