Hasta La Gadget!

A lot of the technology we enjoy here on Earth started out as tech created for the space program. NASA has a very cool robot working on the International Space Station right now called Robonaut 2. New technology that has spun off from the Robonaut 2 program has been unveiled that could help astronauts exercise while in the weightlessness of space – and could possibly help paraplegics on Earth to walk again.

The technology is called the X1 robotic exoskeleton and was developed in cooperation with NASA and the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. The exoskeleton weighs 57 pounds and can be worn by humans to help assist or inhibit the movement of leg joints. By inhibiting movement, the exoskeleton could also provide resistive exercise.

The exoskeleton is worn over the legs with a harness that reaches up the back and around the shoulders. It offers 10° of freedom in the joints with four motorized joints at the hips and knees along with six passive joints that allow for sidestepping, turning, pointing, and flexing the foot. The system offers multiple adjustment points allowing the X1 to be used in a variety of ways. For instance, the exoskeleton could be used to help astronauts carry heavy gear on the surface of other planets and could possibly be adapted to military transport use here on Earth.

If you love clothes and happen to a fan of geeky stuff like Star Wars, then I’m pretty sure you’ve already heard of Black Milk Clothing by now. They’re behind the uber-sexy TARDIS mini dress and leggings and a series of awesome geeky swimsuits featuring C-3PO, Pac-Man, and R2-D2.

Their latest offering is a mini dress featuring none other than R2-D2. So if you’ve already got the swimsuit, then you’ll probably want a matching dress to go with it. Not that you’ll be wearing both of them at the same time, but, well, you get the point.

The dress is officially-licensed by Lucasfilm and is made from 82% polyester and 18% Lycra. It also happens to be one of those bodycon dresses that’s already an outfit in itself. Just pull it on, put your shoes on, and don’t worry about accessorizing because the dress already does all the work for you.

This is just one of Black Milk’s Star Wars-themed offerings this season. You can check out the video below for more from their range.

The R2-D2 dress is available at Black Milk for $130.00 AUD (~$133 USD).

[via GeekAlerts]

Now I have to admit that I’ve not watched every episode of Doctor Who ever, but I just don’t seem to recall seeing an episode where the Doctor has a farm and raised chickens. Maybe I just missed that one. If the good Doctor had ever been a farmer, this is what his chicken coop would look like.

This TARDIS chicken coop was built by DaveNinja, and looks just like the Doctor’s time-and-spaceship, except for the part where it’s got chicken wire in the windows, and wood shavings to absorb chicken poop on the floor. Other than that, it’s just like it.

I wonder if the hens inside have traveled around the universe and throughout time while laying their eggs. The renaissance ordered a ham and cheese omelet? Coming right up. Adam and Eve on a raft for Genghis Khan? Sure, no problem!

Check out more pics of the TARDIS chicken coop over on TardisBuilders.

If you’ve been thinking about picking up a new pair of eyeglasses, I think I might just have the thing that’ll get you up off your butt to order a pair. Yep, for the first time that I know of, you can now order Star Wars eyeglasses. Woot!

This awesome new line of Star Wars eyewear comes from Japan’s Aigan, and includes five cool designer frames inspired by some of your favorite characters. You can choose from Boba Fett, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, or Stormtrooper frames, each with subtle (and not-so-subtle) design touches which remind you of the characters without being so ridiculous that you’d never wear them in public.

Each pair also comes with a nifty zipper case, complete with Star Wars graphics on front. Each design comes with a unique style, but this is what the Darth Vader one looks like:

Best of all, the guys over at Gizmine will be importing these from Japan starting at the end of October, and you can pre-order them now. At $499.99(USD) a pair, they’re not exactly cheap, but what designer eyeglasses are these days? I just paid about $700 for a pair with lenses and they were nowhere nearly as cool as the Boba Fetts.

[via Akibalive]

I present to you the ultimate power in the Halloween universe. A fully operational Death Star pumpkin. You kids better hold your candy tight otherwise it’s tractor beam will steal your hard earned stash.

This geeky pumpkin was hand painted and it looks like it took a lot of time to get all of that detail. It’s not a real pumpkin, because you wouldn’t want to see a Death star rot after a few weeks. It’s a fake pumpkin painted with UV reactive and glow in the dark paint.

It measures about 7.5″ tall with a 9″ diameter. It was created by Etsy seller LuckyCricketART and will cost you $225 (USD). While that’s a lot of money for a fake pumpkin, I suppose it’s not a bad price at all if you absolutely must destroy Alderaan.

[via Craziest Gadgets]