Gizmodo Australia » styrofoam

The Styrobot Wants to Rule Your Cups and Packaging

Mark Wilson — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:45:00 +0000

There’s really nothing great that can be done with Styrofoam other than not produce it in the first place, but in lieu of recycling it or throwing it away, one man and his son, inspired by this artwork, took 5 years worth of Styrofoam packaging and did the next most logical thing—built a giant robot.

Assembled from 5 main pieces sliced with a foam cutter and held together with silicon seal, the limbs fit the torso as if they’re sitting on a shelf (requiring no additional adhesive for easy assembly/disassembly). Also of note: this styrobot only weighs nine kilos. Just don’t tell the neighbours, because they sorta think he’s real. [KK via MAKE]

Styrofoam Homes Are Typhoon-Resistant, Refillable with People or Coffee

Jesus Diaz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:04:00 +0000

Styrofoam homes may sound like a recipient for disaster, but Japan Dome House Co., Ltd. thinks they’re the future. A future in which all of us will be hobbits or smurfs. Made with 7-inch-thick 100% expanded polystyrene foam modules, the company says that they don’t have the maintenance problems of wood or metal structures, and they are “highly resistant” to earthquakes, fires, and typhoons. Still, the 480 domes at Aso Farm Land resort village in Kyushu look like a suburban community on Mos Eisley’s outskirts or a world from Myst.

Inside, however, the homes look huge.

Each module is only 80kg, and they can be carried and assembled by a couple of people in a matter of hours. I don’t know how that is compatible with “typhoon resistant,” but since it has been approved by Japan’s safety-obsessed government, we would have to believe it’s true. Head to Pink Tentacle for more pictures and details. [Pink Tentacle]

Giant Robots Are a Lot More Manageable in Styrofoam

Mark Wilson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:00 +0000

From what we’ve heard, a 22-foot robot can be a pain to keep. Sure, it sounds great at first–get carried everywhere, never wipe yourself again–but you never know when a robot will reach singularity and gut you in revenge for making it love like a real person.

Luckily these styrofoam robots by artist Michael Salter come with no such caveats. His tallest creation reaches over 6.7 metres in the air and is held together by a wooden skeleton. But the most interesting part of the work is that he didn’t know if it would stand until he set it up at the museum.

(this is obviously a different robot)

Salter was forced to build the robot in chunks–arms, legs and torso. It wasn’t until he reached the San Jose Art Museum (where the exhibit is on display through October) that Salter assembled the robot in full for the first time. And it stood!

But apparently it could fall with a firm push…not that anyone would mess with a giant robot, styrofoam or not. [Komo News via DVICE]

Gigantic Million-Piece LEGO Boulder Actually Has Styrofoam Core

Jason Chen — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:40:00 +0000

You know that gigantic LEGO Indiana Jones boulder? Turns out that only the outside is LEGO. The inside (based on this photo) is made of styrofoam. We suppose that it would be way too cost-prohibitive to build the entire boulder out of LEGO, but that doesn’t make us any less disappointed. [Photo Credit - Thanks Mike!]