Sink Your Balls Quickly With Pool-Cue Robots 79
AndreV writes "In another attempt to dehumanize our bar games, a Canadian engineer has turned the classic game of billiards on its head with his BilliardBots pet project, which consists of a series of remote-controlled mobile robots meant to replace the standard cue sticks normally used to pocket pool balls. While in his version the basic rules remain, unlike regular billiards, players in this version simultaneously rush to pocket their designated balls (they don't take turns), 'thus it's very competitive and fast,' the creator says. In order to keep tight reins on the mechatronic ball handlers' movements, he adapted a pair of Playstation controllers and says that playing 'requires dexterity, like a video game,' to control their 3.5-m/sec-maximum speeds. The 'bots are designed simply but effectively, using a 3-by-3-by-3-inch metal frame with an electronic board, two motors and rechargeable battery packs. Using a Bluetooth wireless communication protocol, its commands come from the wireless controller with single or double joystick selectable control (the other buttons are not used). Its other parameters are software programmable, such as maximum acceleration rate, maximum speed and maximum rotation speed."
Rather Not (Score:5, Funny)
I would prefer that they were not torpedoed by some cue-stick armed robot.
My wife concurs and she is bi-polar, going through a nasty bout of menopause and has access to the shotgun.
Forewarned you overlords of metal.
Scary title (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Scary title (Score:1, Funny)
I read it as "Shrink your balls"
pocket pool will (Score:1, Funny)
Sinking Balls? Tea Bag? (Score:1, Funny)
Is this related to the "Tea Bagging" parties that Americans seem to be having to protest taxes?
YES (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously? (Score:5, Funny)
The only robot I want playing with my balls is portrayed by Summer Glau. But I'll settle for the actual Summer Glau.
Re:Wait... (Score:4, Funny)
It depends on the "quality" of the pr0n you are viewing, and the 'engagement factor'...
More research is needed...
Well, thanks to that awesome title... (Score:5, Funny)
... I don't think there's going to be a single serious comment in this thread.
Re:Sign me up (Score:5, Funny)
As a roboticist...
Are those like furries?
me too (Score:4, Funny)
I just assumed it had something to do with the teabag protest last week.
Re:Scary title (Score:1, Funny)
Worse: I read it as two sentences. "Sink your balls quickly with pool" leading to "Cue robots!".
That was the ultimate WTF experience.
Re:Rather Not (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Rather Not (Score:3, Funny)