Backyard Genius 2011: The Year's 10 Best DIY Creations

PM scoured the world to find the most animatronic, microscopic, hydraulic, jet-powered, home-brewed, jury-rigged, oddball creations of the year. By Davin Coburn

1 of 10

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Genius: Easton LaChappelle
Age: 15
Location: Mancos, Colo.

Put away your baking soda volcano?this kid built an animatronic hand. For his high school science fair project, Easton LaChappelle studied anatomical drawings to better understand finger joints and movement, then created a wirelessly controlled mechanical hand. The fingers are constructed of flexible wire tubing, while the "wrist" is reinforced with Lego bricks. Fishing wire runs through the tubing from the fingertips to five independent servos, providing the hand's motion. Next, LaChappelle sewed flex sensors into a standard athletic glove and wired them up to a custom Arduino controller board and shield. The shield sends wireless signals to a receiver on the animatronic hand. The whole setup works without a computer interface and costs only around $350. "Some strength is lost because of the materials I used," LaChappelle says, "but I can pick up a full can of soda with it."

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