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Robotic Wellington Boot Thrower

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the too-much-time-on-feet dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A long established "sport" in the UK is that of welly wanging or seeing how far you can throw a wellington boot. Scientists at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth have built a robotic arm to perform this task, using an engine from a concrete mixer, and a gearbox from a Citroen along with several computers."

2 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. US Military tradition by GMontag · · Score: 1, Interesting

    An Army tradition anyway, is to tie a pair of boots together by the laces and toss them into a tree when leaving the Army. Objective is to get them into the tree, not distance. Do not attempt with a soldier who is wearing the boots unless that soldier is passed out (never with a Ranger, passed out or not).

    Thought it was funny that a variant on this was used in the movie "Wag the Dog" as a substitute for the yellow ribbon thing that is popular now.

    Something similar happens in maintenance shops. People throw their key sets up on top of the ceiling beams when they leave.

    Now, if we could get these boot thrower engineers, Army mechanics and the other soldiers together we could be unmatched in useless throwing automation technology!

    --
    Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
  2. Re:Why the lord is not my shepherd by Grab · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Nah - amateur. I can tell you're not a Brit, an Aussie or a Kiwi! ;-)

    For the uninitiated: You wear the wellies. You put the sheep's hind-legs into the wellies. The sheep then can't escape.

    Velcro gloves are another useful extra. Allegedly.

    And apparently it's better done at the edge of a cliff - the sheep tends to push back more. Again allegedly.

    Grab.