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High tech gadgets used to trigger medieval weapon
reuters ^
| Mar 1, 2011
| Harriet McLeod
Posted on 03/04/2011 6:38:03 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: trebuchet
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To: JoeProBono
To: Mr_Moonlight
3
posted on
03/04/2011 7:03:39 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
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.
4
posted on
03/04/2011 7:12:49 PM PST
by
Inyo-Mono
(Had God not driven man from the Garden of Eden the Sierra Club surely would have.)
To: JoeProBono; humblegunner; Eaker; shibumi; Salamander; Allegra; Markos33; TheOldLady; ...
5
posted on
03/04/2011 7:27:27 PM PST
by
50mm
( I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough.)
To: Mr_Moonlight
Your mother is an hamster and your father smells of eldeberries.
6
posted on
03/04/2011 7:28:46 PM PST
by
freefdny
To: 50mm
7
posted on
03/04/2011 7:42:22 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
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. :-)
8
posted on
03/04/2011 7:42:56 PM PST
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: JoeProBono
"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.
9
posted on
03/04/2011 7:44:58 PM PST
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: Ramius

Trebuchet Kit Suggested Retail Price: $39.95 Our Price: $37.95
10
posted on
03/04/2011 7:48:24 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
I would never use children as projectiles in a trebuchet, but thanks for the suggestion. :-0
11
posted on
03/04/2011 7:54:54 PM PST
by
50mm
( I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough.)
To: 50mm
12
posted on
03/04/2011 8:05:47 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: MozartLover
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
To: JoeProBono
Would you, sir, have any picture of pianos being launched by trebouchet?
/johnny
To: JRandomFreeper
Are you testing me;-{)
15
posted on
03/04/2011 8:13:38 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
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.
16
posted on
03/04/2011 9:03:17 PM PST
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: Ramius
17
posted on
03/04/2011 9:15:37 PM PST
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
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
19
posted on
03/05/2011 1:39:40 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Conservative States of America has a nice ring to it.)
To: Professional Engineer
Criquey mate, wat are you doing up at this hour:-)
As for me, work:-(
Regards
alfa6 :.}
20
posted on
03/05/2011 1:55:26 AM PST
by
alfa6
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