Wait ‘Til You See This Boy Genius’ Monster-Catching Machine
- Posted on March 9, 2012 at 1:59pm by
Liz Klimas
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Catching a monster can be hard work, but one 7-year-old is showing us just how many components it takes to create a machine to trap one.
If you’re wondering, it takes dominoes, a mini bowling pin, a marker cap, a marble, plastic tubing, a canned good, and much more.
This monster catcher falls into the category known as a “Rube Goldberg machine”, which its inventor Audri Clemons describes is “a machine that creates a chain reaction — a really complicated one — to do a simple task.” Although, it can be argued that catching a nighttime bedroom invader is not a simple task.
As machine gets going after a domino is knocked down, its components and ingenuity become more complicated. For example, then the marble flips a switch that turns on a toaster that when done toasting pops up a cardboard paper towel tube that then furthers a complicated reaction of balls on top of a series of books and so on.
As fun as it is to explain, it’s much better to watch. Check out Audri’s creation:
Here’s a pictorial sequence of how the machine works.
Audri doesn’t set unrealistic expectations for the machine. He understands that such a complicated network does not always work on the first try, so he scientifically keeps track of successes and failures. As you can see, he hypothesizes that he will have many failures with few, but worth it, successes.
Audri's hypothesis of successes and failures.
Celebrating the fact that the machine worked with fewer failures than expected.
In case you were wondering who Rube Goldberg is, he was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor and author who died in 1970. He was famously known for his “inventions”, which were drawings for complex contraptions used to do simple things such as pulling cotton out of a medicine bottle.
What’s the ultimate lesson of this experiment? In the words of Audri: “If you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
[H/T Gawker]
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Comments (122)
One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:51pmChris Farley’s unknown spawn! ;) Little hyper, but pretty smart, if he really made the thing.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:27pmThe kid gave credit to OK Go for the music. The use of this band‘s work is significant to the kid’s video because OK Go is known for using impressive Rube Goldberg machines in its music videos.
See here.
OK Go – This Too Shall Pass – Rube Goldberg Machine version – Official
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:34pm“…and knocking all the balls off…”
Did he test this on Obama at come point?
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:07pmOk very nice – we just want to see what is in your lunch bag.
Report Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:54pmNot trying to be mean, but this is just a normal 7 year old kid, not a “boy genius.” The way he talked, it sounded like he made this for an assignment. I’d give him a B+.
I wish I could get paid to surf Youtube and write articles about the videos I find.
Report Post »RabidPatriot
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:43amI love it when children are using their minds to be creative.
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:47pmhave any heard about all the fraud going on in the votes…
search.
alaska,ohio,any place where voted.
kid need a few more successes , but i would hire him and give him a chance,
Report Post »got plenty of monsters…most in dc.
TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:12pmEewww, whats up with his fingernail?
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:31pmCaught it in the toaster maybe?
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:42pmGot it caught in the Rube Goldberg a few times I guess….
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:43pm1 He hit it
Report Post »2 it’s ink
3 it is not what you have on your finger.
Onowicit
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:03pmbruised or dirty fingernails used to be the sign of a hardworking man. now we have to guess or say eeww!
Report Post »why don’t you go back to painting your nails.
cranberry
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:58pmThat kid may save the world someday. Great!
Report Post »OklahomaBound
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:12pmI hope this kid doesn’t live in Canada, they just had that case where a school kid drew a picture of her dad shooting bad guys and monsters with a gun which resulted in the fathers arrest. I’m not sure if it was because they hate guns or really like their monsters and criminals but capturing monsters with this clever device seems to be tempting fate.
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:18pm@OklahomaBound Link, please?
Report Post »VTDave
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:29pmTomservo,
Here is a link for you:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1136659–kitchener-dad-arrested-at-school-after-daughter-draws-picture-of-gun
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:33pmYikes, that is definitely a eyebrow-raising story.
Luckily it didn‘t happen here in the good ol’ US of A!
Report Post »All American American
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:55pmWith that much time, effort, and cost, plus the fact that it fails about 10x more than it succeeds, this lilttle “genius” will be working for the federal gubmint in about 20 years or so, guaranteed.
Maybe he’ll design the “next generation” Chevy Volt?
Bwahahahahaha!!! Genius my a**.
Report Post »Jackoniell123
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:06pmHey, this kid took time and effort to do something productive. At least he didn’t sit in front of a TV playing video games. So what if he designs the next Chevy Volt??? Maybe it will work better than the model out right now… Think about that.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:52pmHe looks and acts just like a guy I worked with in the past who has Aspergers Syndrome.
Report Post »mdeputy7
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:00pmDude…you’re a freakin jerk. This was very impressive for a SEVEN year old…..heck. It’s impressive for an adult. Quit whining because you don‘t feel adequate enough after seeing this kid’s smarts.
Report Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 7:49pm“Hey, this kid took time and effort to do something productive.”
Productive?
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:32pmIt failed ten times more than it succeeded? Oh, come on! Thomas Edison made about a hundred different light bulbs before he figured out that tungsten was the only material that didn’t burn out after a few minutes. Give the kid a break. We need to encourage the Millenium Babies. There are a lot of them out there, and they‘re so smart they’d scare you.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:53pmJust like the MouseTrap game. Kid did a good job, not sure why he is being called a “boy genius,”
Report Post »but at least he isn’t spending his time in front of a game console or a TV.
G-WHIZ
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 11:59amOf course, IF he was on the streetcorner with a murdering gang of thugs beating-up conservatives in wheelchairs or with heavy clubs to intimidate voters on electionday………. . Say, what? He actually saw the whole out of the sum of its parts…and actually built it…and with much failure got it to work? OUTSTANDING!!!!!
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:52pmDid this genius have a degree from an accredited institution to practice his engineering skills? Does he have a business license? Is he being properly taxed, and if not, why isn’t he. Is he providing health insurance for the videographer and his children until the age of 26? Is he creating an EPA infraction by using materials known to cause cancer in lab rats? Did the fire marshal grant permission to use that toaster in an unsafe environment?
Do you see how screwed we all are thanks to good ole’ Uncle Sam?
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:09pmDo you have an actual critique that’s not a strawman? No, no you don’t.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:38pmTomservo, take your head out of your ass before you suffocate.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:45pm@TSUNAMI-22
Report Post »Nice… but, you forgot about the rights of the monster! Now the house will have to be torn down!
TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:52pm@ The-Monk
@TSUNAMI-22
Report Post »Nice… but, you forgot about the rights of the monster! Now the house will have to be torn down!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just figured the monster was part of the 1%. Stupid me. ;)
The-Monk
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:11pm@TSUNAMI-22
Report Post »Wink wink, nudge nudge, know what’ca mean…
AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:43pmHummm! Secretly, this is how the Founding Fathers really did it….Success=how many countries have been successful with tyranny?…Failure=how many countries have failed with tyranny?
Report Post »This adorable kid genius gave me an idea….Obama lay-out-his-last-3.5 yrs-and sadly, at the end, the little monster has grown & can’t be covered by the re-strainer..I mean, strainer. How about the rep.candidates lay out their plans of how to destroy this monster-of-big-government….and if each candidate cannot use the “items-ideas-of-The-Constitution-of-the-United-States….
USAMEDIC3008
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:57pmTime to take it to D.C. and see how well it works…..
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:42pmWhat a terribly written headline. Copy-editing, people! It’s not that hard! I guess it’s just hard to find qualified people who are willing to be employed by this cesspool.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:08pmI nominate you for Grammar Sherriff. Any seconds?
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:16pmIf they pay me, I will gladly fix the vast number of errors that regularly appear in their copy.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:34pm@TOMSERVO
HOW? by going away?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:40pmThen, send them a resume, instead of complaining to us.
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:13pmwhy do you come here if it’s a cess pool.. You bored? Go somewhere else that would suit your snotty elitist attitude. This isn’t brain surgery. Most people posting aren’t writing novels or medical books. The unbelievable gall of people today.
Report Post »ThatsWhy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:23amSorry, have to agree. The grammar on this site is atrocious… mostly by the commenters. However, they are not being paid to write for the Blaze. Those who are being paid should not be making such elementary mistakes.
Report Post »ThatsWhy
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 10:34amOh, by the way, I DO NOT agree with @Tomservo’s “cess pool” comment. That’s just stupid. TROLL!
Report Post »00gabooga
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:38pmHere’s to you Rube Goldberg, wherever you are!
Report Post »Ialmostforgot
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 8:55amRube Goldberg was a clumsy, lazy, hoarder. He would just set stuff down anywhere. When he needed desk space he just pushed something out of the way that would set off an avalanche of events in his space. When something hit him on top of the head, one day, it dawned on him.
Report Post »T-2
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:33pmhaha….that’s awesome.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:32pmParents will go to any length to try to show people how special their kids are. Wonder why we only see the finished product and don’t see the kid actually designing it and putting it together? Not really, I know exactly why.
Report Post »MrObstat
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:59pmThe kid probably had help from his parents. Geez!! He’s only 7! That’s okay. It’s called parenting.
I applaud the kid and his Mom.
He learned a ton about many things.
He did not learn how to write snarky, unfounded, bitter, bullying posts such as the nonsense posted by Rowgue.
Report Post »hcartexas
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:09pm@MROBSTAT… his mom? I dont know of one woman with an engineering mindset? And as far as this “genius”…. my nephew does the same and more at age 5….his DAD doesnt help him, just says “read the diagram and figure it out”, and he speaks better, and he’s not fat, and he doesnt have a stupid name.
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 5:16pmI just don’t understand some of you people.. First of all have you ever done a youtube vid.. They take a lot of time and you only have so much time to hold peoples attention. Could you imagine the length of the video setting this up? Is it even relevant.. And yes parents are proud of their kids. Thank God this kid is into more than xbox and huffing paint. Give it a rest people..
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on March 10, 2012 at 12:16pmIf you post a video that proposes to show your kid being a genius, then let’s see the genius. Let’s see him explaining why he used certain items in the design. Lets hear him explaining the physics behind how something is going to work.
All that video is, is the kid saying “dis thing is going to hit dis thing, then dat thing is going to hit dis thing…”. If that passes for genius in your world then my dog must be einstein.
Report Post »PureDrumFury
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:30pmI love this kid. Awesome.
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:29pmPretty work Jr.!
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:28pmWay to go Audri!!!! I wish I could be a good again.
Report Post »IndianaJan
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:26pmOh geez. This is what my husband must have been like as a cute little kid! You should see our basement and garage!! Love it!!!!! Thanks!
Report Post »fulcrum
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:25pmAfter he grows up, is indoctrinated in school, learns that sucess in America no longer exist, he’ll become a mediocre occupied activist with aspirations of painting a historical picture of the man who destroyed this country.
Report Post »Barak Husein Obama.
TenguScriptures
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:02pmI bet he’s home-schooled.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:22pmGreat lesson for him to learn at his age of 7…Never Give Up, Never Quit
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:22pm.
Report Post »He needs to go set that thing up at the White House. If it works we’ll take 538 more…..
Mark0331
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:25pmJust for the record, you crack me the ‘F’ up…Thank You
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:06pm.
TY I try……
But, I’ve been told I have a Bad Monkey here lately. So if I have said anything that has hurt Ya‘lls feelings I’m Sorry…..
But, I’ll probably do it again, so I’m Sorry in advance……..
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:49pmaye , thanks monkey
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:58pm@SpankDaMonkey
Report Post »Nice… but, you forgot to add in all of Obama’s Czars. We just might need a few more?
Onowicit
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 9:12pmfrom one monkey to another….heheeheoooohheooo
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:15pmGo Audri!!!
Silversmith
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:15pmLOL. Pretty good kid. He’s got a better success rate than Ron Paul winning state contests.
Report Post »Advena
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:13pmShades of Heath Robinson!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:12pmBirth of an Experimental Scientist!
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:53pmAnd, by appearances, a good one to boot.
Report Post »Kudos to Audri Clemons!
JBaer
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:10pmLove it!!!
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on March 9, 2012 at 2:04pmThat is great.
Report Post »