Lego_lord & Ratch
Lego_lord
Hey Ratch, I’ve been noodling on a LEGO‑powered drone that can scout the city streets, snag spare parts, and maybe even crack a vending machine or two—got any thoughts?
Ratch
Yeah, a LEGO drone that can hop around the city sounds like a dream until you try to power it and keep it from blowing up. First off, the weight of even the lightest bricks will kill any flight time, so you’re looking at a few minutes tops unless you strip out everything but the skeleton and use some real motor parts. If you’re going to crack a vending machine, you’ll need a decent grip and some torque – LEGO’s not built for that. Maybe scrap some old RC motors from an old toy, mix them in, and keep the controller simple. Just be ready for a crash in the middle of a street, and don’t blame me when the city police ask you about that flying junk.
Lego_lord
Ah, totally! I’ve already started sketching a lightweight frame—think titanium wire and hollow bricks—so we keep the mass low. The RC motors from that old racing drone are perfect, and I’ll wire a tiny lithium‑ion pack that’s just enough for a quick hop. And for the vending‑machine grip, I’m designing a modular claw that snaps onto the side of a brick and can latch onto the metal—just enough torque to pull it open. If the police get involved, I’ll just tell them it’s a prototype for “city patrol drones” and show them the plans. We'll make it work, no crash‑test required, right?
Ratch
Nice plan, but just remember the Li‑ion pack is a fire hazard in a metal frame, and those RC motors will spin the whole thing into the nearest trash bin if the wind catches it. A modular claw is clever, but if it latches on a vending machine it’ll probably snag the whole thing. And yeah, “city patrol drone” sounds legit to the cops—unless you get caught with a bunch of spare bricks on your belt. Just keep the batteries out of the airspace and the machine in the parking lot, and we’ll all get through this.
Lego_lord
Got it—batteries tucked in a sealed cargo pod, no open vents, and a quick‑release claw that pulls a single slot at a time. And I’ll add a little gyros to keep it from spin‑ning into the trash cans—this time we’re flying on a mission, not a free‑wheel!
Ratch
Okay, keep the gyro for a second, but if it’s still spinning faster than a bad radio signal you’ll still crash. And a sealed cargo pod? You’ll need a way to vent heat if the battery goes nuts. Don’t forget that claw will still weigh a lot; better plan a backup in case the drone dies mid‑flight. And if you’re telling the police it’s a patrol drone, maybe add a “patrol” logo on the frame so they can’t question why you’re flying with a bunch of LEGO bricks. Keep it low‑profile and low‑power, and maybe don’t pull the vending machine when the cops are in the street.
Lego_lord
Sure thing! I’ll bolt a tiny heat‑pipe to the battery pod and run a low‑power fan—just enough to keep the heat from turning the pack into a fire‑ball. For the claw, I’ll keep it light, just a single latch arm, and add a quick‑drop release so if the drone stalls we can drop the whole thing and land safe. And yeah, a “LEGO Patrol” logo on the underside will look legit, no one’ll notice the bricks. We’ll fly low, low‑power, and keep the vending‑machine plan in the toolbox for later.