Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Personal Spy, DJ, Receptionist, and Killer Robot

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 12:50 AM PST

All this and more in the Spykee series designed by CR. This particular entry is about Spykee VOX, who obeys your commands by voice or remote. It can move around, play music (with a connected iPod), remotely control other electronics, show human emotion (or maybe just robot emotion) with it’s face-lights, and kill things (as shown by the picture with blood spatters all over it (?!))

Concept and artistic direction by Lauren Vermeglio, renderings Dom Vu. Made possible by Cedric Ragot Design Studio with Erector brand and Meccano. This is what happens when you have awesome ideas: lots of people put their hands on it. (Not that lots of hands touching your stuff is a terrible thing, mind you.)

Awesome features of the Spykee VOX:
3 microphones
LCD screen
Made for iPod® dock
Digital music player connection
Obstacle detector
IR sensors
Stereo loudspeakers
2 motors
USB plug
IR remote Control

Check out first Veronica Bellmont for Engadget interviewing a woman for Erector showing all four of the Spykee robots. When Veronica asks her about it shooting lasers at intruders, notice that she does not refute the idea that these lasers will hurt. = Awesome.

Then find the Spykee Vox on the portfolio site of Cedric Ragot (Design - Electronics - Spykee Vox) and watch the video. It’s nowhere else on the internet, I swear. And it’s most excellent.

NOTE: In early versions of this robot, there was no iPod dock. (See picture #2) - Interesting, yes?

UPDATE: Most/all of the Spykee series is now in production.
I wouldn’t be upset if anyone decided to pick me up a few.

Designer: Cedric Ragot

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Like Most Fans, This One Gets Tired

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 12:46 AM PST

I don’t think anyone can argue that eventually, if humans don’t get green active, the earth is going to get used up. But true to form, humans don’t really give much of a hoot about such things. What Addi Design Group wants to say is: you should feel this pull physically, every single day. (Or at least every day you need a fan.) With “Our Biggest Fan” who’s head, when not in use, droops down like a wilted flower. Sad, huh?

The fan is activated and kept upright by a leather strap running down its back. When the strap is unhinged, the fan stops spinning and the head droops down. When you need air, you re-pull the strap.

Addi says this cute couple of sentences about the fan: “Global warming needs to be stopped. The problem itself is very big and it sure needs a very big group of fans to make a difference.” AWWW.

The thing I wonder is: with such big spaces between the guards around the spinning blades, what’s to protect my fingers from global chopping off?

And yes, I have been that silly before.

Designer: Addi Design Group

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Power of The Revolving Light Switch

Posted: 28 Jan 2009 01:17 PM PST

Gradually as dawn breaks the rays of the sun bathe the sky with its warm glow. A meditative effect that sees itself being transformed as the MAGI! With this concept you get a two-part team that tangos together to perform a synchronized dance. Rotate the power switch and the overhead lamp progressively opens to reveal the light. Like the glorious sun shining over you, urging you to feel your inner light, the MAGI beams through.

The MAGI light and switch concept was sponsored by ARTEMIDE.

Designer: Liang Yun