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Brothers Build World's Largest Model Airport

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-going-to-need-more-glue dept.

kkleiner writes "Frederik and Gerrit Braun, energetic twin brothers with no shortage of dreams, have just finished construction of the world's largest model airport. With 40,000 lights, 15,000 figurines, 500 cars, 10,000 trees, 50 trains, 1000 wagons, 100 signals, 200 switches, 300 buildings and 40 planes, Knuffingen Airport is both a wonder to behold as well as a technological tour de force. The best part of Knuffingen is that it's alive. Forty planes and 90 vehicles move about autonomously. Located in Hamburg, Germany, the model is based on Hamburg Airport."

2 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Scenarios by mustPushCart · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From TFA:
    The airport, roughly 150 square meters (over 1,600 square feet), is breathtaking to behold. But the Brauns’ masterpiece is even more than an autonomous feast for the eyes: it’s interactive. Visitors can push buttons on the railing surrounding the model airport to induce up to 11 different programmed scenarios. A visitor who pushes the button labeled “Fire incident” will see smoke begin to billow out of a house, and then actual flames. The fire house will sound the alarm and begin flashing its lights. Moments later the fire brigade–3-4 vehicles located randomly about the airport–will turn on their lights and start heading towards the fire. At intersections the fire engines will sound their horns and cars will yield the right of way. Meanwhile the fire grows bigger! After the fire engines converge on the burning house the PC decides whether or not the fire has been successfully put out. If not, another alarm is sounded and additional fire engines (up to 35!) from the neighborhood come to the rescue.

    AI programming along with all the complicated physical inputs too. Amazing

  2. Re:That's only a small part of a tinkerer's dream by chebucto · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It should be made clear that this isn't just the work of two brothers - there are ~150 people who work there.

    Which isn't to diminish the accomplishment at all - what they've created really is worthy of wonder.

    See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA, you won't regret it.

    --
    The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.