We feel honored! Tonight fellow TechnoGeckos Niels Joubert, Berlin Blount, and Sunny Wood discussed their experiences making it through Burning Man on the live radio show, Makin It Radio. If you’d like to listen to some of their conversation, here’s the link to the episode: https://www.makinitradio.com/2019/07/makin-it-through-burning-man.html
LIDAR Underway
DiscoFish touted its driverless capabilities and the hope was for TechnoGecko to follow in its footprints, to also be fully autonomous on playa. But, this creature is lot more complicated. The first year of TechnoGecko on playa we used a remote to drive it around playa. Being able to drive it from the ground and not need a driver seat was a cool first step, but we wanted a hands-off experience with cutting edge technology. We wanted more.
Developing way-point technology for one vehicle is tricky enough considering all the obstacles at Block Rock City: acidity, uneven surface, lack of roads or markers or any kind, dust storms, pitch darkness, tons of bikers and walkers, and destinations with obstacles of all sorts between. But, to develop it for multiple modules that can split apart, come back together, move around things, all synchronized and at the same time safety maneuvering all that the playa will throw at it is a tall order.
Luckily, Neils joined our team and is an expert with the technology. He hopes to set an example on playa for what those LIDAR best practices are.
This year he is developing out the back end which will be necessary to operate all the vehicle modules simultaneously as we continue to complete and add more over the next few years. Since we have two modeules this year on the TechnoGecko there will be a basic way-point technology between the creature and its destination but the code will be there if more sophistication is applicable.
Neils jumped right in, got the LIDAR basics setup and the interface for setting destinations and targets ready to go. Over the next few weeks he will continue to test, build, code, and generate everything to get the TechnoGecko autonomous on playa in Black Rock City.
PLAM - Power Lights Audio Movement
2018 was the year of PLAM, the bare bones basics to get a mutant vehicle on playa — Power, Lights, Audio, Movement. Without completing these features, we would never be able to get a mutant vehicle pass. This was looming in our minds from the start, a clear goal ingrained in all the volunteers.
It took months after the 2017 burn to develop the new art car visions theme, list of capabilities, fashion a look and feel, and identify all the bells and whistles. Months after that were spent engineering loads, developing fabrication designs, and waiting for parts to arrive. It was in the last stretch before burning man 2018, May through August, that everything was coming together and work actually started. The team needed to sprint as fast as they could to get as much done as possible before the burn, recruiting more able bodied people to help make up for the lack of time.
The big question was - would it be enough. We didn’t know.
The team initially wanted to complete two modules, but in the ended focused on just one - the front half of the body. The DiscoFish caboose was fully functional and would be added to the TechnoGecko first module to make it more impactful on playa. Getting the first module done was tough. We had to weld A LOT to make the frame of the body. No one on the team was experienced in welding. The amount of man hours to make it was severely underestimated but people stepped up, took ownership, and became experts. We recruited more experienced welders to help, non burners that wanted to contribute to a cool side project. We were thankful.
POWER
For power, we needed to get the batteries assembled, connected, and built in an electronic system that would allow the vehicle to be directed from a remote control (no autonomy yet). Luckily, our group has a lot of battery experts so of all the things we had to get done, power was one of the easiest.
LIGHTS
The team played around with light ideas for the outside of the gecko, testing and retesting to see what might be something that would look cool, work, and hold up to the playa elements. Chris built a custom vacuum forming machine, it worked but it was slow. The burning man gods sent us three professional vacuum forming machines that a business was tossing and therefore willingly donated to us. It sped up the process but we still spent nearly every build day cranking out molds for the gecko scales that would be placed on the outside of the first module. Each mold then had to be spray painted for daytime visual impact, have LED lights placed inside for nighttime impact, a metal blacking added, the entire piece fastened together, then sanding to prevent MOOP. After completion, they had to be assembled onto the gecko body. It was tedious and nearly half the volunteers helped in those steps alone.
AUDIO
We ordered an upgraded sound system from a group in California. It was going to be glorious. But, they couldn’t delivery in time after all. With a few weeks before the burn we pivoted our audio ideas entirely and went with what we used in years past. The DiscoFish audio gear was gutted and re-purposed on the Gecko. Everything worked.
MOVE
Although everything was tested before the playa — the Gecko could be attached to the DiscoFish Caboose and maneuver in the parking lot — that is never enough. The big moment would come when we got to Black Rock City. The beast was HEAVY, we knew that. The Playa was not flat, we also knew that. The tires weren’t built for traction - we know that. Unfortunately, the gears and chains pulled apart and broke upon first test on playa. It was a hard moment for everyone to take in. Luckily the team was there early and it left a little more wiggle room for options. Calls were made and new pieces were overnighted to the team that was arriving mid week. The crew that was there early started stripping off the old pieces and when the new ones arrived, replacing them. There was still no guarantee. But, luckily, after the swap (which took nearly two full days) the Gecko was mobile. With only a few hours left before the DMV shut down for the day, we went and after a long inspection were granted a day and night pass for the remained of the burn.
The debut of the TechnoGecko was something the team was so excited about. It took a village. We embarked on a crazy quest and made it to the playa, something a lot that plan on never do for a host of reasons. We learned a lot. We gained a lot of useful information and insight on what to do for the five remaining vehicles, and then we partied.
Our bait shifts were fun, the night parties were fun, we brought joy to the Burners and that in turn brought us joy.
We cannot wait for what next year brings!
All Electric Art Car - No Gas & No Engine
Many of the TechnoGecko crew (formerly DiscoFish crew) have a background in energy including solar, battery, and electric. DiscoFish used gas and an engine so it only made sense for the next vehicle to put the existing skillsets to use and be all electric.
TechnoGecko uses car batteries and interfaces to make it move. We have engineers on the team that specialize in battery integration into our custom chassis, frame, and design schematic. Luckily, everyone was up for the challenge.
We did a bit of testing before we mounted the system into the “Robot Head” - the module developed during the iRobot themed event at Black Rock City, NV.
Art Car Chassis Is Born
5 Things First Time Burners going to Black Rock City Should Know
Creating an Art Car -- the Vision
DISCOFISH, WE LOVE YOU!
We came, we swam, and we’re evolving!
This group was behind DiscoFish, a beloved angler fish that perused the playa for several years attracting unsuspecting victims in to dance with it’s shiny disco ball and dope beats.
In 2002, the DiscoFish swam the Playa for the first time, creating many memories for the early innovators. By 2011, DiscoFish had evolved into a giant anglerfish mutant vehicle with glowing iridescent scales, flamethrower, and a giant sparkling disco ball. Over the next 5 years the team addsed the caboose, dorsal fins, and laser radar (LIDAR) to make the DiscoFish autonomous.
But, all things must evolve and in 2017 DiscoFish took her final voyage to the playa and decided to start the transformation into a land bearing Gecko! To all those that shared moments, dances, DJ sets, and memories with DiscoFish- we love you.
Here are some highlights!
Daft Punk playing on DiscoFish at the trash fence! It happened!
