This looks like a fun project. I think it works so well, or at least, seams to in the video because LEDs are so damn efficient.
I would make it somewhat differently, but this is good. For one thing, I'd probably make it out of an LED flashlight, swapping out the batteries for a motor.
And then, when you have your flashlight ready, you can do this!
(Hat tip: David Cassatt)
More like this
I heard about this on NPR last night and I think it's a great idea; Mark Bent has invented a
One of the roads near my house was just redone. They added some awesome retroreflectors in the middle. Here is a shot. No wait, I don't have a picture of that. I tried to take one, but it just didn't turn out very well. Oh, you know what it is supposed to look like.
The Torch is the world's brightest and most powerful flashlight.
It is capable of melting plastic, lighting paper on fire within seconds, and if you like, fry an egg or a marshmallow on a stick.
You know you've been infected with nerdiness when you're on vacation and you decide that, rather than sleeping in and relaxing like a normal person, you're going to get up at 5 am to hit Manasota Beach at low tide.
The issue is getting the right gear motor, which is unspecified. :(
The gearing is going to be pretty bulky, unless you specifically design it to be not bulky. Usually these gear motors are designed for specific purpose mechanical devices where there is plenty of bulk to accommodate inefficient design.
Getting a high gear reduction requires multiple gears, unless a worm gear is used, but then the gear train can't be operated from the other end.