Tag: Bay Area

Maker Faire 2025

Lutin

We are very excited to announce HipMonsters.com will be presenting RobotFreedom at this year’s Bay Area Maker Faire, September 26 through September 28th at Mare Island!  We have been training our emotional robots for over a year, living with them, playing with them and watching them grow. Come see our robots in action live! 

Here is a recap of the 2024 Bay Area Maker Faire to give you a preview of what to expect. These are some of our favorite exhibits, from an underwater robot explorer to a giant inflatable cuttlefish car.

Bay Area Maker Faire

This is the Maker Faire Bazaar, where visitor can find all sorts of handmade goods, like dice, pottery, and even 3d-printed hot chocolate.

Metal orrery at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is a big working model of the solar system that is the size of a room. All of the planet’s orbit times are proportional to the real ones.

Miniature house at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is a small model of a bakery with working lights and miniature baked goods.

battle bot at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is an old battlebot, complete with two giant spikes in front and four googly eyes (Maker Faire 2023).

 

 

DIY robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is the Humanoid Robot Comedy Show. These robots can move their faces to show facial expressions and look you in the eyes while they tell jokes.

Steampunk DIY robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

This robot is built for battle. This is one of the robots that fights in an arena against other robots. It is remote controlled and has arms that can swing around.

Dalek at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is Dalek FAX, a remote controlled model of a Dalek that moves and talks.

Under water robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

This small robot is built by ROV Tour: Underwater Robotics Adventure. They are remote controlled and have cameras that can show footage of its underwater adventures.

After.AI winning Maker Faire prize

And the award winning After.AI whose 3D printed mechanical flip signs were so fun to watch!

Gear art DIY robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

This amazing clock uses a whole wall full of gears to tell time.

Metal fire insect at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is a part of Serenity, an art exhibit showing three insects that shoot fire at a press of a button (Maker Faire 2023).

inflatable art DIY robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

These are parts of Astro Botanicals Space Garden, which is a collection of glowing handmade inflatable plants.

Inflatable art DIY robots at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is Sepia Lux, a giant inflatable cuttlefish car that lights up. The tentacles and the fins of the cuttlefish can move, and the eyes can change colors.

Truck at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is a truck inspired by a beetle complete with wings and a bright green shell.

Drivable peacock at Bay Area Maker Faire

This is a peacock vehicle that lights up and moves.

We are looking forward to seeing you all at this year Bay Area Maker Faire!

Hope you find inspiration!

 

Castello di Amorosa

Lutin

Ever wish a medieval castle was just a drive away? In you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can visit Castello di Amorosa. It is in Napa just two hours away.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga

We sometimes need to break from the workshop, and Castello di Amorosa is one of our favorite places to relax and refill our creative well.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga Court yard

The attention to detail is amazing, and they capture the feel of ancient castles in Europe.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga Hall way

Dark and spooky corridors can be found to given you inspiration and chills. Sometimes you can find hidden passageways.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga Knight

Beautiful murals and statues are found throughout the castle. There is so much detail to the murals, and everything is done in the same style as the ancient castles.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga Knight

Here is a suit of armor stand ready for action. In the background you can see a beautiful mural that shows the knights going into battle.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga Gift shop

Everything has the perfect patina to give it a timeless and well-worn look. The tiles in this image are skillfully decorated with intricate patterns.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga downstairs

Here are some more mysterious dimly lit corridors.

Castello di Amorosa: Napa Valley Castle Winery in Calistoga View from the front

The outside of the castle looks just as real. You can see the guard towers and the merlons, and you can even walk along the castle wall. There is also livestock outside the castle.

Hope you find inspiration!