This is an old YouTube video that I’ve been wanting to blog for a while. Over in Tongzhou, there is a farmer who makes robots despite a lack of any formal training. He loves making robots, but his wife is not so fond of them, especially after Mr. Wu burned down the house. On the flip side, she says at least he’s not drinking or chasing women, just making robots.
These are not just your regular old toy robots, these are robots that can take you to market, or pour tea. From a Sky News article:
For the farmer, from Tongzhou, China, is a part-time inventor who creates ‘labour-saving robots’ out of scrap he finds at rubbish dumps.
His brain-children – all developed during long nights spent in his garden shed with only his imagination as a guide – include Number Five, a one-metre-tall humanoid robot capable of walking, changing light bulbs, lighting cigarettes and pouring tea.A newer model named Number Six is a monkey-like robot with magnetized feet which enable it to crawl slowly up metallic walls.
The backyard scientist has also produced a miniature frog-shaped robot that hops, and a giant, walking eight-legged trestle table capable of carrying two passengers.
All of Mr Wu’s inventions are fashioned out of welded-together metal, duct tape and second-hand batteries.
Here is a terrific video with British comedian Paul Merton. While visiting Beijing, Merton thought it was more interesting to go visit the robot farmer than go to the Great Wall, and frankly, I have to agree.
Watch the video to the end, there’s a wonderful moment when one robot clanks by the door.
I’m tempted to visit myself now; Tongzhou isn’t that far away from where I live, and who doesn’t want to see robots?