Robots of any kind!
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A fancy apartment building on Worthing seafront.
The white railings against a dark background reminded me of industrial machine belts.
Kinda creepy, but also kinda cool at the same time. They move, make noise and light up. Bits and pieces of this and that.
subZERO Festival in downtown San José, California.
Even though steel production has been relatively stable for last 30 years in U.S., labor has decreased by 42% due to automation, leaving towns like Gary, Indiana with neighborhoods like this.
Created in DDG Text 2 Dream using its "Artistic" Ai model.
Filters: PS Beta 2023, Topaz Sharpen Ai, Topaz Studio.
A bit of hand painting.
This began as all hot pink. I used the "Adjustments" tab set of filters in PS to bring in green/lilac tones, then added several layers of "difference" or "exclusion" on top. The final saturation and texture modifications are multiple Topaz Studio looks. I'm guessing that this is about 20 layers in total.
Thanks for your visit, faves, and kind comments.
Зенит = Zenit means Zenith that is the point in the sky that appears directly above the observer in astronomy or may mean the highest point
Manufactured by Vileiskiy Zavod Zenit, (Vileiskiy factory Zenit) of BelOMO (Belorussian Optical and Mechanical Association), near Minsk, former USSR
Model: 1991 type 5d, (produced between 1991-92)
all Zenit ET produced between 1982-1993 with quantity 3.000.000
as to Alexander Komarov
35 mm film SLR camera
Lens: MC Helios-44M-6 58mm f/2, (written with Latin letters), automatic diaphragm,
filter theread 52mm, serial no.93451950,
Other standard lens is Helios-44 58mm f/2 with manual diaphragm
Mount: M42 screw mount
Zenit and Valdai logos are on the lens
Aperture: f/2 - f/16, setting dial and ring on the lens
Focus range: 0.5-10m, +inf.
Focusing: Fresnel matte glass screen, ring, scale and DOF scale on the lens
Shutter: Horizontaly travelling, cloth focal-plane shutter, speeds 1/30 - 1/500 +B,
setting dial: on the top plate
Shutter cocking lever: also winds the film, short stroke, on the right of the top plate
Shutter release: on the top plate w/ cable release socket, and a lock mechanism
by half pressing you can see the DOF
Frame counter: coupled with the winding knob, advance type, manual setting
Viewfinder: eye-level SLR pentaprism
Exposure meter: uncoupled Selenium cell lightmeter
Metering: match the needles type, window beside the re-wind lever
Setting: by a complex dial under the re-wind lever with ASA, speed and aperture setting dials
Re-wind lever: folding crank type, left of the top plate
Re-wind release: by a collar around the shutter release
Self timer: activates by a small knob above the lever
Hot-shoe
Flash PC socket: on front of the top plate, X sync.1/30, marked 30-X on the speed dial
Back cover: hinged, opens by lifting the re-winding lever
Body: Plastic bronze coloured top and bottom finish, some parts are also plastic, weight:
Engravings on the bottom plate: Made in USSR and the Vilejka factory logo
Strap lugs
Tripod socket 1/4''
Serial no. 9132008 (stamped inside the back cover, the first two digits show the production year)
Small numbers of early Zenits was produced by KMZ, in 1981-82
Zenit ETs also exist without aperture automation. They offered various finish materials and colours like silver, black, bronze.
This camera is an attempt to modernize the Zenit EM. Initially it looked just like an EM with new lettering, with new designs on the dials.
The cameras produced in BeLomo are a complete remake of earlier Zenit ET. The shape and features remain the same, but material that camera was made is different. It mostly made from plastic and lite alloy. Not only external parts like top and bottom cowers made from plastic, but many internal gears, levers, and pulleys are made from plastic also. But the camera works very smooth, quieter then metal counterpart and the most peculiar feature on this model is the first multi coated lens in mass production.
The Soviet times factory Vileiskiy Zavod Zenit new name is Vilejka Factory, or officially OM RUP ZENIT. Founded in early 1969 in Vilejka, about 75km north-west of Minsk, as a side plant of MMZ and KMZ to produce Zenit cameras. Vilejka, has produced many Zenit models: E, TTL, ET, 11, 15, under slightly different designations. Vilejka is apparently still producing Zenits, i.e. Zenit 130.
MMZ (Minsk Mechanical Factory) was founded in 1957. It started making optical glass and producing cameras that were developed by GOMZ. In 1971 MMZ and Vileiskiy Zavod Zenit merged to form BelOMO (Belorussian Optical and Mechanical Association) . It was based in Minsk.
Optical-Mechanical Factory Valdai is located about 400km north-west of Moscow. Very little is known of this plant, but it has been a prolific producer of lenses for KMZ, and Zenit BelOMO. The SLR lenses bear the Helios name.
more info: Communist Cameras by Nathan Dayton, Fotoua by Alexander Komarov, Sovietcams by Aidas Pikiotas, Sovietcamera by JM Burtscher
Kinda creepy, but also kinda cool at the same time. Bits and pieces of things, put together so they move, make noises and flash lights. But probably not for the kids.
subZERO Festival in downtown San José, California.
The headquarters of Rockwell Automation in Milwaukee, WI features two large industrial buildings, connected by a six-story skywalk and crowned with what was for 50 years the world's largest four-sided clock.
Automated large scale irrigation system for providing water and nutrients to this sugar beet field. Bonneville County, Idaho.
Automate the observatory with two telescopes is much more difficult than with one.
Here I'm imaging NGC 891 with both telescopes and then the humidity reaches the maximum threshold, so both mounts get parked and the roof is closed.
The Allen-Bradley Clock Tower, owned by Allen-Bradley, a product brand of Rockwell Automation, has long been a landmark in Milwaukee. According to the Guinness Book of World Records: "The largest four-faced clock is that on the research and office addition of the Allen-Bradley Company. Each face has a diameter of 40 feet 3+1⁄2 inches (12.28 meters), and is octagonal to represent the outline of the Allen-Bradley logo. Dedicated on October 31, 1962, it rises 280 ft (85 m) from the streets of Milwaukee, and requires 34.6 kilowatts of electricity for lighting and power." It has since been surpassed by the 141 ft (43 m) clock faces of the Abraj Al Bait.[1]
The original plan for the clock tower date as far back as 1959, when it appears on early drawings for the proposed addition. Created by architect Fitzhugh Scott, the plans included several towers in its design, only one of which would house a clock. This was scaled back, however a smaller tower on an existing building was kept and modified to display the outdoor temperature using a large digital display. The interest in creating the tower was Harry Bradley, younger of the firm's two founding brothers. An inventor, Bradley including in his tinkering several of the clocks which he owned.
The Clock Tower's lighted faces have been used as a navigation aid for Lake Michigan mariners over the years, except during the 1973 oil crisis when the clock was unlit from November 1973 to June 1974.[2]
The clock tower is referred to by the nickname "the Polish Moon", due to its large lit white faces and location on Milwaukee's southside neighborhood which was developed by polish immigrants to the city during the 20th century.
First successful fully automated run. Other than hitting the power buttons the scope ran itself- from unparking to parking at the end. A bright moon, so I stuck with a trusty favorite the Perseus double cluster through the more forgiving 320mm fl apo.
I will also be able to "delay start" when darkness comes late (like in June) or when a target doesn't rise until after bedtime. I haven't tried yet, but the goal is to also be able to run multiple targets as darkness allows. A rare clear winter night around here is about 18 hours long, enough for 3 full imaging runs.
My point, certainly, is not to let the thing run while I sit inside and eat potato chips, more to give the flexibilty to do other things without having to babysit the imaging. Other things could be visual telescoping, going to the park for the view to the south, or I guess sitting on the sofa and eating potato chips.
Equipment
Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses
Astro-Tech AT66ED
Imaging Cameras
QHYCCD QHY163C
Mounts
Celestron Omni CG-4
Accessories
Astro-Tech .8x Reducer/Field Flattener · OnStep Telescope Mount Goto Controller · Rigel Systems Stepper motor
Software
Adobe Photoshop · Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP) · Open PHD Guiding Project PHD2 · Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA)
Acquisition details
Dates:
Sept. 5, 2022
Frames:
161×120″(5h 22′)
Integration:
5h 22′
Avg. Moon age:
9.28 days
Avg. Moon phase:
69.64%
Basic astrometry details
Astrometry.net job: 6272151
RA center: 02h19m07s.2
DEC center: +57°06′36″
Pixel scale: 2.423 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 113.026 degrees
Field radius: 1.918 degrees
Find images in the same area
Resolution: 4528x3462
File size: 22.9 MB
Data source: Backyard
The second prototype for my latest Mindstorms project, which will hopefully become an automatic LEGO mosaic printer.
Info, commentary and video of it in action can be found in the video: youtu.be/r8OQDy29yJU
The latest update to my LEGO Mindstorms printer project, with the scanning functionality all working.
I'm not sure I can really call this a prototype anymore, since it is pretty much fully functional, but there is still work to do.
Info, commentary and footage of it in action can be found in the video: youtu.be/iyQCMP2kqs0
A pair of R188 trains approach 111th St station on the Flushing Line. The (7) train at left is operating under automatic train control on the CBTC-equipped main track, and the out-of-service one at right is (to my knowledge) being operated manually by the yard operator into the pocket track. This also explains the difference in speed between the two trains, as the one at right was creeping along very slowly and the one at left was easily going three times as fast! It was quite lucky that they met in the clear space where they did!
R188 (7) (Kawasaki, 2011-2016)
111th St station
Flushing Line - IRT
L2.05W0.82H1.14M120 • Cₓ0.2 • 0.5MW, 3,156Nm @12kHz, η>99%
EVBM18kg Li₂O₂ 40M୧ 720MJ • 679kph • 0-100kph→0.5s 5.665g₀
If you rode the rest of your life and really became the best that you could be, you would never ride like l ride.
S.S. LaBeouf in W.O. Stone 2010: WS: Money never sleeps.
Cfr. notes (1-18) over the above image.
NOTES
1. Windscreen-integrated MR-HUD + 3D holographic dashboard. 2. C-ABS, AWTVS, s-ϑ-v sensors on front & rear wheels. 3. Öhlins FGR300 Carbon ⌀60×S130 mm AS front fork. 4. 355mm T5 CCTi front brake vented discs. 5. Brembo GP5 front brake 4-piston fixed calipers. 6. 220mm T5 CCTi rear brake vented disc @ dx side. 7. Brembo GP5 rear brake 2-piston fixed caliper @ dx side. 8. BST GP Tek front + rear wheels (1.7+2.4 Kg). 9. 120/60ZR17 front tire. 10. 200/55ZR17 rear tire. 11. 525 17/46 drive chain. 12. 66.4° steering head angle. 13. 200° front/rear cameras. 14. Öhlins Carbon BDB50 S117mm AS rear shock absorber. 15. AWARHD. 16. M winglets provide 160N @300kph. 17. ϑ°ₘₐₓ 70°. 18. Lateral battery packs with the additional function of gyroscopic stabilizers.
Pₘₐₓ = Fₓ v = 2⁻¹ Cₓ A ρ vₘₐₓ³ → vₘₐₓ = ∛(2Pₘₐₓ Cₓ⁻¹ A⁻¹ ρ⁻¹) ≅ 678.6 km/h (A, frontal area ≅ 0.5 m²). Actual performance would depend on various factors, including aerodynamics, traction, and mechanical limitations. In this simplified model, v primarily depends on P and Cₓ rather than on M, and vₘₐₓ remains the same even with a slightly higher OAM.
REFERENCES
D.A. Vincenzi & al. 2024: Human factors in simulation & training.
M. Ghafarian & al. 2023: Dynamic Vehicular Motion Simulators.
B. González-Arcos & P.J. Gamez-Montero 2023: MotoGP airflow redirectors.
K. Wiński & A. Piechna 2022: Sport motorcycle CFD.
E. Frœse & al. 1985: Le parc (Street Hawk OST).
D. Byrne & al. 1983: This must be the place.
K. Gamble & al. 1973: For the love of money.
ÆM · EGP 2019 · 無限 神電八 2019 TT0 · LS218 2013 · ZM DSR-BF
BMW ÆM 2017 · DUCATI V21L · MOTOROiD 2017 · I/MI-B · TF · SA
Over the past decade, I have photographed Norwegian entrepreneur and roboticist Hans Peter Brøndmo many times, capturing him in settings that mirror his dual nature as both a visionary engineer and an artist at heart. This particular portrait was taken aboard the R/V Kinfish in the high Arctic, where the stark, elemental beauty of the surroundings seemed to reflect his own blend of precision and imagination.
Hans Peter is a rare subject—an inspirational leader in engineering and a dear friend. We share a deep passion for photography and art, and our conversations often drift between the mechanics of robotic autonomy and the aesthetics of light and form. His work at Everyday Robots for Google was transformational, leading efforts to create learning-based, adaptive robots that could navigate complex human environments. By integrating advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and embodied cognition, he sought to push beyond conventional automation and into a future where robots could assist in meaningful, intuitive ways.
Beyond Everyday Robots, Hans Peter’s entrepreneurial career has been defined by a deep understanding of both technology and human experience. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded and led multiple ventures at the cutting edge of robotics, AI, and digital media. His ability to bridge technical breakthroughs with real-world applications has made him a sought-after leader in the field. Early in his career, he worked on pioneering internet technologies and later shifted his focus to robotics, recognizing the profound impact intelligent machines could have on industries ranging from healthcare to environmental monitoring.
His approach to robotics is as much philosophical as it is technical. He often speaks of the importance of creating systems that adapt, learn, and evolve—machines that are not rigidly programmed but instead develop a kind of digital intuition. One of his key lessons from years of work in the field is that the best robots are not those that seek to replace humans but those that enhance human capability, allowing people to focus on creativity, connection, and problem-solving.
There are few people who move so effortlessly between disciplines, who can speak as fluently about neural networks as they can about composition and exposure. Hans Peter embodies that rare synthesis of logic and intuition, of rigorous engineering and boundless creativity. Whether on the deck of a research vessel or in the depths of a machine-learning lab, he carries the same spark of curiosity—a restless pursuit of the next great challenge.
Created for a Gizmodo article about home automation.
Random Trivia: In order to make the minifig hold the remote, I had to carve off the lower part of his hand. Also... the liquid in the mug is actually beer.