High tech gadgets used to trigger medieval weapon

reuters ^ | Mar 1, 2011 | Harriet McLeod

[JoeProBono]

Workers at a Google data center combined 12 century know how and space age technology to trigger a medieval weapon that was used to hurl rocks, balls of fire and dead animals over castle walls.

They used an Android cellphone, a computer the size of a credit card and a Blue Tooth receiver to trigger the wooden weapon, known as a trebuchet, during the first "Storm the Citadel Trebuchet Competition" in Charleston over the weekend.

The trebuchet was used during medieval times to break down fortifications. "They also threw dead people," said Dennis Fallon, dean of engineering at The Citadel, a military college with about 2,100 male and female cadets. "What we have done in military history is not always something to be proud of." More powerful than the ballistas and catapults of ancient empires, the trebuchet used a long swing arm, triggered by the pull of gravity on a counterweight placed at the other end, to slingshot its payload into the air.

[JoeProBono]

[Mr_Moonlight]

[JoeProBono]

[Inyo-Mono]

Looks like fun! When I was a child, many moons ago, I made a giant sling shot using my Dad’s sawhorse and a bicycle tire tube cut in half and that thing would fling fruit quite a distance.

[50mm]

Ping for ideas for backyard fun.

Make sure to catch the flaming projectile at the end.

Youtube - Trebuchet Fun

[freefdny]

Your mother is an hamster and your father smells of eldeberries.

[JoeProBono]

[Ramius]

I have a model Trebuchet kit that I still haven’t had time to assemble. I should do that... soon.

It’s from New Stirling Arms, and will be about 30” high, and it’s supposed to throw golf balls very nicely. It’s a replica model of the trebuchet at Caerphilly Castle.

I think it would be fun to have on my desk at work. :-)

[Ramius]

"They also threw dead people," said Dennis Fallon, dean of engineering at The Citadel, a military college with about 2,100 male and female cadets. "What we have done in military history is not always something to be proud of."

Oh, I dunno... it worked. Crude bio warfare-- but effective.

[JoeProBono]

Trebuchet Kit Suggested Retail Price: $39.95 Our Price: $37.95

[50mm]

I would never use children as projectiles in a trebuchet, but thanks for the suggestion. :-0

[JoeProBono]

[JRandomFreeper]

You just KNOW I had to be here for this. Built a small one for the local grandbabies. It flings pennies and marbles across the yard.

They want me to build a larger one.

They would be boys. ;)

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Would you, sir, have any picture of pianos being launched by trebouchet?

/johnny

[JoeProBono]

Are you testing me;-{)

[Ramius]

Here's mine:

If you see that "rock" projectile and figure it to be a golf ball, that gives a sense of scale on the model.

[JoeProBono]

[JRandomFreeper]

I'm still sure that you are a sentient AI with original roots in government photo analysis software.

From the future, maybe.

But until I get uploaded into the great laptop in the sky, I won't know for sure.

No harm, no foul, either way. I like meat people as much as chip based ones. ;)

/johnny

[Professional Engineer]

Bfl

[alfa6]

Criquey mate, wat are you doing up at this hour:-)

As for me, work:-(

Regards

alfa6 :.}