Adam Savage has been operating Boston Dynamics' Spot robot for a few months, getting to know the ins and outs of its capabilities. While more projects with Spot are in the works, Adam today answers questions about how Spot works, showing core features like how it's manually controlled to how it can autonomously navigate planned missions. Its different gaits are mesmerizing!
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We chat with Gavin Free of The Slow Mo Guys to learn about their new VR mini-series that lets you watch their experiments in stereo VR180. Joey and Gavin compare notes about the interesting production challenges of filming and editing immersive video, and we marvel at the custom Phantom Flex 4K rig The Slow Mo Guys put together to capture their experiments. Plus, Norm reviews The Room: A Dark Matter, which is one of the best puzzle games made for VR headsets!
Prop builder and Tested's 3D designer/fabricator Sean Charlesworth checks in with some of the projects he's working on from home, including vintage camera repairs, upgrades to his Ghost Trap replica, and new Ghostbuster-inspired prop replicas. Sean also shares some resources for 3D printer owners to print critical equipment needed by health care facilities, like face shields.
While the Tested team is working from home and practicing social distancing, we'll be sharing the projects we're taking on and our own strategies for making the best out of self-isolation. Fabricator Jen Schachter checks in with a toolbox organization project as well as new tools for her home shop for making picture frames.
We continue our tour backstage at the San Francisco touring production of Hamilton with a visit to the audio room, where assistant audio engineer Adrianna Brannon gives Adam an overview of what it takes to build, maintain, and manage the dozens of microphones used in the show. Adam also gets to check out King George's crown! Thanks to the team at Hamilton SF for being so welcoming during our visit!
Adam Savage visits the sound mixing booth for the San Francisco touring production of Hamilton to learn how audio engineer Kevin McCoy mixes the dozens of microphone and instrument tracks in real-time during every performance. It's a mind-blowing look at important role of sound engineering and mixing for stage shows and musical theater.
Half-Life: Alyx is almost here, the culmination of years of development and experimentation with VR gaming. Back in December, we sat down with Valve's Robin Walker and Greg Coomer for an in-depth conversation about designing the game to showcase the potential of virtual reality and lessons learned during development. Don't worry, no game spoilers here!
At the San Francisco production of Hamilton, Adam Savage goes backstage with cast member Rick Negron (King George), visiting the wig and makeup room and learning what it takes to put on this amazing show every night. Find tickets for Hamilton in San Francisco here.
Tested Premium Membership as you know it is changing. But we're excited to offer more of what you've been asking for— including some interactive experiences.
From now on, you will not be able to make subscription transactions or update your payment method on our current system. But don't worry, if you've already signed up and paid, you will still receive your subscriber benefits for the year-long term.
In Toronto, Adam Savage tours Tim Barraball's shop Acme FX, where many of the practical effects for The Expanse are produced. From electronics to metal-working to pyrotechnics to even RAIN and SNOW, Tim and his team do it all, and Adam is in heaven seeing what tools and materials they use to achieve their amazing special effects!
Adam Savage ADORES conventions, and he loves meeting new fans and seeing new costumes. Here's a running list of conventions where you can meet Adam (many of them for the first time), with many more to come! (We can't announce him before the CONVENTIONS do.)
Note: Our Tested crew will not be filming at all these conventions, although we CAN confirm we'll be at SiliCON and San Diego Comic-Con!
You may have seen the news this week that I'm now the creative director of SiliCON!
Obviously I'm in love with cons for their enthusiastic communities and also the amazing and awesome cosplay. For SiliCON, I'm going deep. We plan to not only celebrate cosplay and fandom in general, but also specifically to celebrate the MAKING, the MASHUPS, the PERFORMANCE, and the rich tapestry of COLLABORATION that brings cosplayers incredible ideas to life.
Adam goes back stage on the San Francisco touring production of Hamilton to check out a few of the numerous hand and stage props used for the musical. The show's prop master gives us an up-close look at some of the iconic objects from the show, from King George's scepter to Hamilton's dueling pistols!
We go behind-the-scenes at Lucasfilm's ILMxLAB to dive into the development of Star Wars: Vader Immortal. Chatting with the director and developers of this VR experience, we see how iconic environments were crafted, how new ships were modeled, and how lightsaber combat and force powers were designed to work with the potential and limitations of virtual reality hardware.
Adam's first project with Boston Dynamics' Spot robot gives it a novel purpose: pulling a custom-built carriage with Adam as its passenger! Watch Adam give Spot some Victorian flair and the interesting problems that arise in marrying cutting-edge robot technology with vintage transport.
Adam Savage kicks off his book club with mathematician Matt Parker, discussing Matt's book, Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World. Much of the conversation centers around your questions, including one that points out a possible error, so thanks for taking part! Stay tuned for Adam's next book club selection.
Adam welcomes a new member to the Tested family: Boston Dynamics' Spot robot! All throughout this year, Adam will be conducting builds and projects with Spot, integrating it into the workshop and taking it on adventures in the field. The first thing to do is test Spot's capabilities at an outdoor training course! Our Year with Spot commences!
Adam Savage is starting a book club, and he wants YOU to be part of it! He's kicking it off with mathematician Matt Parker and Matt's new book, Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World. Read it and submit your questions and comments below in the comments before Monday, Feb 3, when Matt will be in the cave to discuss the book with Adam, then stay tuned for the conversation on Tested.com! Buy the book here.
How do you make dangerous scenes safe, especially where zero gravity is involved? Adam Savage chats with stunt coordinator Matt Birman, who has worked on the Expanse since day one, about the challenges of balancing story, location, safety and expense. Watch The Expanse seasons 1 through 4 on Amazon Video.
After a full year of summit and online competitions, the top AWS DeepRacer competitors travel to Las Vegas to face off in the DeepRacer Championship Cup! We chat with competitors and learn how they've developed models to send the DeepRacer autonomous RC car around a track it's never seen before, and the strategies to keep pace with the world's best. (This video is sponsored by Amazon Web Services.)