Feed me! Feeeeed Me.

February 10, 2011 10:46 AM

What does the future of electricity hold? Microbial Fuel Cells? How about a carnivorous clock?
posted by The Whelk (19 comments total)

The comments on the "carnivorous clock" YouTube post are kinda hilarious:

"Carnivorous robots... That can't be good."

"THIS IS FUCKING CRUEL LEAVE THE FLIES ALONE YOU ASSHOLES"

"Anyone else think that teaching robots to eat living things is a bad idea? :S"
posted by zarq at 10:56 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

How about a MacBook made of flesh?
posted by Iridic at 10:58 AM on February 10, 2011 [3 favorites]

It's cool, but I agree with the all-caps youtube comment that the energy out seems to be more than the energy in. Does the motor run constantly, or only when it feels something hit it?
posted by codacorolla at 11:01 AM on February 10, 2011

Couldn't they have made a vegan clock instead?
posted by Long Way To Go at 11:01 AM on February 10, 2011

How about a MacBook made of flesh?

Designed by Ed Gein?
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:03 AM on February 10, 2011

Yeah, I saw a project like this a couple years ago. I wish you could buy the microbial fuel cells somewhere.
posted by DU at 11:03 AM on February 10, 2011

Iridic: "How about a MacBook made of flesh?"

A group of users who tested beta versions of the horrendous new MacBook told reporters they were deeply disturbed when their products moaned to indicate a low battery and then snored gently when put to sleep.

"There's all this gelatinous webbing that you have to stick your hand in just to turn it on, and then once you do, it starts, like, yelling for 30 seconds or so," said Shane Brick, a 38-year-old beta tester in San Francisco, adding that he "actually felt kind of bad for it." "The maintenance is ridiculous, too: Once a month it sheds all of its skin, and you need to shave the USB ports every couple days."

"And you definitely cannot look at porn," Brick added. "The thing got really aroused."

Heh.
posted by zarq at 11:10 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Don't mind me, I'm just inserting a Betamax tape into this strange slit that has opened up in my chest.
posted by adipocere at 11:16 AM on February 10, 2011 [2 favorites]

Long live the new flesh, dude.
posted by lodurr at 11:45 AM on February 10, 2011

(... and now at least we know how Long Now is going to power that ten-thousand-year clock.)
posted by lodurr at 11:46 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wait a minute - 8 flies run a small wheeled robot for about a week?

With those little rinky-dink plexiglass fuel cells?

Wait - 8 flies run a robot for a week?!?
posted by CynicalKnight at 11:48 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Your strange chest slit takes beta? HOW OLD ARE YOU LOL???
posted by Mister_A at 11:50 AM on February 10, 2011

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until it has eaten all the flies.
posted by notyou at 12:10 PM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Genetically modified bacteria used as logic gates for biological computers!
posted by clavdivs at 12:53 PM on February 10, 2011

hm. forwarded. my roommate is currently doing research on MFCs and might decide he has something to contribute.
posted by fore at 1:30 PM on February 10, 2011

I like the idea, but it isn't that new:




posted by YAMWAK at 1:48 PM on February 10, 2011

Ah - that didn't work. Oops.

Robot looked at in 1999

And the finished thingy in 2001
posted by YAMWAK at 1:49 PM on February 10, 2011

Prepare for the Butlerian Jihad!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:20 PM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

I, for one, welcome our new overlord .
posted by arcticseal at 12:29 AM on February 11, 2011 [1 favorite]