Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#1

Post by gommm » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 2:41 AM UTC

Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism
news.cnet.com

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#2

Post by jonursenbach » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:27 AM UTC

This is probably the first time in my life that my jaw has literally dropped while watching an invention/recreation in action. Absolutely incredible.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#3

Post by kunjaan » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:40 AM UTC

Kudos to the director as well. The video wowed me as much as the machine it self.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#4

Post by joshes » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:42 AM UTC

jonursenbach wrote: post #2

This is probably the first time in my life that my jaw has literally dropped while watching an invention/recreation in action. Absolutely incredible.

Agreed. This was absolutely stunning to witness.

Extreme kudos to Mr. Andrew Carol for resurrecting a technological gem.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#5

Post by ygd » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:55 AM UTC

Reminds me of this: http://xkcd.com/659/

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#6

Post by evgeny0 » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:56 AM UTC

The video is definitely very impressive, but I'm still far more impressed by the fact someone made this in 100 BC than that someone re-created it in 2010 AD. I had never heard of the Antikythera mechanism before.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#7

Post by bryanh » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:57 AM UTC

Check out the guy's actual site with tons more technical detail: http://acarol.woz.org/antikythera_mechanism.html

What an impressive achievement. I think this is what we want all of our pet projects to be...

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#8

Post by neovive » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 3:59 AM UTC

Truly amazing level of detail! Hopefully the plans are made available for others to learn from.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#9

Post by davidchua » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 4:21 AM UTC

Beautiful! When I first read about Antikythera sometime back, it fascinated me to learn that 2000 years ago, someone has created what seems to be the first computer.

I wonder if the Ancient Astronaut theories could actually hold water.

Re: Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild Antikythera mechanism

#10

Post by jonhendry » Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 4:22 AM UTC

The same engineer also built a Lego Babbage difference engine:

http://acarol.woz.org/difference_engine.html

Anyone know what Mr. Carol works on at Apple?