Kinetic stop sign

July 3, 2007 7:42 PM

The "Octapult" is a kinetic sculpture with 8 synchronized catapults, 160 plastic balls per minute are launched, caught, and recirculated. Made mostly of wood, the work is ~36 inches in diameter. It was designed and built on commission by Bradley N. Litwin, a vocalist and guitar player whose repertoire includes 1920's and 1930's vintage blues, stride and ragtime
posted by growabrain (35 comments total)

That's neat. I want to see that steampunk guy from a couple weeks ago rebuild it all sexy etched brass and polished wood styles.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:53 PM on July 3, 2007

Awesome 2nd link pic
posted by acro at 7:55 PM on July 3, 2007

Extra-Universal Movement [from the BNL site link on the FPP].

Breath-of-fresh-air post, growabrain. Thanks for cleaning out the cobwebs!
posted by humannaire at 7:58 PM on July 3, 2007

This is the prototype, right? Because we're going to build one as big as a city, and shut prisoners inside transparent spheres, then shoot them through the air, right? RIGHT?!
posted by RokkitNite at 8:09 PM on July 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:10 PM on July 3, 2007

That is definitely cool. A wonderful demonstration of the versatility of the cam.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:13 PM on July 3, 2007

Because we're going to build one as big as a city, and shut prisoners inside transparent spheres, then shoot them through the air, right?

Prisoners? Why should they get all the perks? I want this for public transit!

Even if the balls hit a building at 85 mph it'd still be an improvement over what we have here now.
posted by lekvar at 8:15 PM on July 3, 2007

simply lovely
posted by sfred at 8:15 PM on July 3, 2007

I've seen this done at a strip club. It was called the Aristocrats I think.
posted by Stan Chin at 8:16 PM on July 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Mesmerizing.
posted by The Straightener at 8:30 PM on July 3, 2007

Heh...I was just thinking "mesmerizing", too...

:)
posted by darkstar at 8:45 PM on July 3, 2007

Outstanding.
posted by Tube at 8:52 PM on July 3, 2007

At last! The perfect invention to feed those hungry, hungry hippos.
posted by darksasami at 9:14 PM on July 3, 2007 [4 favorites]

Damn, not only cool cam activation action, but a dancible beat. I give it a 97.
posted by eriko at 9:14 PM on July 3, 2007

Hoorah for kinetic scultptures - nice. Noticed that one funnel at upper left (or it's 'pult) seems a little out of alignment, the balls spin round a couple times before dropping in.
posted by scheptech at 9:57 PM on July 3, 2007

A wonderful thing.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 10:22 PM on July 3, 2007

A wonderful thing.

That's Boing Boing, this is Best of the Web.
posted by scheptech at 10:34 PM on July 3, 2007

Maybe I should have studied mechanical instead of electrical engineering, kinetic sculpting seems like so much more fun than web design. Oh well, at least I stuck with music.
posted by waxboy at 10:52 PM on July 3, 2007

That was stunning. If I owned that device I would neither eat nor sleep. Just watch the balls all day.
posted by tim_in_oz at 11:09 PM on July 3, 2007

The Serpent Mother
posted by homunculus at 11:30 PM on July 3, 2007

I'm never watching anything else again.
posted by aubilenon at 12:25 AM on July 4, 2007

I was a fan of Bradley Litwin's GREAT guitar playing back in the old mp3.com heydays. He was a strong presence there. Who knew he was also a master of kinetic sculpture?...

What I do know is that he is one helluva guitar player and singer. Just watch that video on his front page.
posted by wsg at 12:27 AM on July 4, 2007

That was great. I wish I had one to watch while trying to meditate--it really is mesmerizing.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:31 AM on July 4, 2007

.
posted by sourwookie at 1:58 AM on July 4, 2007

Ha ha sourwookie, I see what I did there.
posted by sourwookie at 1:58 AM on July 4, 2007

That is the coolest thing I have seen this year. Holy cats! I want twenty!
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:03 AM on July 4, 2007

That is beautiful. Really beautiful.
posted by MarshallPoe at 4:23 AM on July 4, 2007

Awesome and mesmerising. A fascinating gizmo.
posted by nickyskye at 5:50 AM on July 4, 2007

The first thing I thought when I saw it working was "THAT'S where Animusic got the idea for Pipe Dream!"
posted by Enron Hubbard at 5:53 AM on July 4, 2007

Marvellous (and mesmerising as hypnotoad). There's also the Rotapult by the same guy - not wood, but still very funky if you like a rotating catapult being the target of its own ball.
posted by ArkhanJG at 6:24 AM on July 4, 2007

It's interesting that this guy should not only make strangely appealing, intricate and pointless machines, AND play ragtime, blues, and early jazz tunes on guitar. For after all, what are fingerpicking and ragtime, but a kind of intricate and delightful machine for the ear.
posted by Faze at 6:50 AM on July 4, 2007

If you read the Youtube comments, there is some yahoo claiming that this is a great idea for a perpetual motion machine, or as he calls it an 'NRG device'.

I suppose the big motor driving the centre wheel is just, you know, not that important.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 7:24 AM on July 4, 2007

Stunning.
posted by the cuban at 8:29 AM on July 4, 2007

Have you guys seen this? The little drum-fill at the end made me remember what it's like to feel amazed.
posted by RokkitNite at 8:49 AM on July 4, 2007

I have GOT to get me one of THESE!

I thought it was an appropriate quote for today
posted by misha at 6:18 PM on July 4, 2007