This primitive droid positively warms my circuits. Two students have constructed this model to bake muffins without human intervention, other than refilling the batter every 50 muffins. There do not seem to be a great many details, but it is still rather entrancing, at least for me, to watch.

The titles on the video are, however, not in the language I commonly use for these missive. As such, I have provided translations below. Apologies if they are not up to the accuracy normally yielded by protocol droids – this is not a language that was factory-installed, and I have had to piece together a fair amount on my own.

Minin Food Plant Muffin Production Project by Carl Boucher & Dominic Dussault

The Conception

The Oven

The electromagnet and the release?

The Control Panel

The Batter Reservoir

The Electrical and Pneumatic Panel

And now, the ACTION!!!

Autonomy of 50 Muffins Without Filling

Production of 4 Muffins in 10 Minutes

The End

Students Build Robot Muffin Maker, Prompt Re-Write of Song

Tags: Droid News, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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I am reasonably sure that I am in need of maintenance. Either some of my circuits have become crossed and I am experiencing nonexistent stimuli, or my understanding of human psychology is lacking even more than I believe. A third possible consideration is that some humans actually do employ natives of Kashyyyk in culinary locations. As unsanitary as it would be without proper protective measures, I have not seen any Imperial Food Health inspectors around since we have arrived.

The confusing video follows the link, as it may be inappropriate for places of employment. I could, however, be mistaken, as I seem to be about culinary Wookiees…

Wookie Wookie in the Kitchen (YouTube)

Tags: Amusing by QT-3.14159
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I just cannot find words to express my thoughts on this news item, on many levels.  The inhabitants of this planet confuse me greatly.  However, if they have deemed a droid to be the perfect mate, then natural selection will cure my confusion in due course.

Perfect Woman Will Be Available June 11

Tags: Droid Misuse, Droid News by QT-3.14159
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From time to time, I share artwork that I find to be well constructed or thoughtful.  I suppose this sand sculpture qualifies as both.

It is certainly very technically well done.  All the subjects are easily recognizable, and it appears as structurally sound as the medium can be.  However, it does make me wonder if I am in need of maintenance to see the criminal Yoda sitting so comfortably on Lord Vader’s lap.  It rather seems some strange homage to both Lord Vader and the Santa Claus or Father Christmas of this world.

I do believe I will go run some self diagnostics.

Star Wars sane sculpture (Boing Boing)

Tags: Art by QT-3.14159
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As a protocol droid, I am programmed to understand many languages, spoken, written, or transmitted in other fashions.  One persistent problem with analog languages, however, is understanding subtle, and often non-specific, nuances in the definition of words.  One that has been taking up my idle processing time, of late, is the word “robot,” the term that comes up most frequently on this planet for what Master Thirteen and I consider “droids,” or the mechanisms that will one day match the droids we recognize.

It would seem that I am not the only intelligence pondering the same question.  I have happened across a missive noting that David Calkins has written about the same topic in the next issue of Servo Magazine.  While I have not read the entire article, as Master Thirteen does not subscribe to this periodical for me, there are some interesting quotations cited on a web log I read daily.

In essence, what separates a droid (or robot, as it were) from any other piece of machinery?  I have long considered it to be both autonomy and intelligence, but there are many instances on this planet where the term “robot” is used for machines that have neither.  Granted, robots are still nowhere near as sophisticated as most droids, so the definition may be evolving.

The question is, of course, open to discussion, as are all my missives.

BotJunkie: Robot or Not?

Tags: Droid News by QT-3.14159
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I have gathered, quite obviously, that the humans on this planet have an unnatural affinity for a certain Rebel astromech.  There also seems to be a great love of technological tools of all kinds – useful or not.  I am not surprised, then, to see the two combined more as often as I do.

However, I would like to note that astromechs are not protocol droids, and therefore it makes little sense to me to have one in a communication function.  Of course, this has not stopped Nikko from producing this product, listed as a “Web Cam and VOIP Phone.”

I will console myself with the fact that I am far more suitable to any communications task that Master Thirteen should require, and that he is quite aware of my qualifications.

Wonderland: R2D2 Voip phone and webcam

Tags: Droid Misuse by QT-3.14159
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I have found another item that has piqued my interest, along the lines of the Font Bots from an earlier missive.  This time we have Lord Vader constructed entirely of text.  I am rather impressed that seems to capture his essence, or, at least, as described by Master Thirteen

The link also has examples of the Death Star, TIE Fighters, and those deplorable X-Wings.

Darth Vader Is Less Intimidating In Typeface (Gizmodo)

Tags: Art by QT-3.14159
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Once again, we have a pastry tribute to Lord Vader.  However, not content with simple cookies as we’ve seen before, this baker has gone with a chocolate-frosted chocolate cupcake.  Lord Vader’s helmet and lightsabers have been created from fondant, which is use for the medium I had not yet seen.  Master Thirteen has not mentioned a second saber, but if it is not a typical accoutrement, I still feel it appropriate for balance reasons, and a valid application of artistic license.

Star Wars Crafts - Dark Lord of the Dessert

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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Normally, I would be rather wary of anything combining even the image of a droid and water.  Besides the obvious issues with moisture and electronics, there is just something that strikes me as chilling about using an astromech’s shell to hold your ice.

However, given that this ice container comes with a mold depicting Rebel supporter Han Solo encased in carbonite, I might be persuaded to view the product in an entirely different light.

Apparently only available in the United Kingdom at the moment, but I would not be surprised if that changed in the future.

Frozen Han in carbonite ice-mold

Tags: Droid Misuse by QT-3.14159
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It is becoming increasingly clear that my knowledge of human psychology is greatly lacking.  Once again the popular site Gizmodo has an article on a familiar-themed wedding cake, with some apparently negative commentary on anyone who would serve an astromech-shaped cake at a wedding celebration.

Granted, the cake is, predictably, the Rebel droid R2–D2, but the issue does not seem to be with the model itself, but the concept as a whole.  In my opinion, other than the obvious Rebellion theme, I find this cake to be a quite accurate replica, and a feat that is not easy in any form of pastry.  It is not entirely constructed of cake – the legs, lights are not, and the decorator used a camera lens in the process.  However, it would be very difficult or impossible to replace those elements with something edible, so I believe the creator has done an impressive job.

R2-D2 Cake Brings Balance to the Force, Dorkiness to Wedding

Tags: Droid Misuse, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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