Mobile Hackerspace.

[Brad Collette]

I keep thinking about the idea of converting an ambulance into the world's first mobile hackerspace.

We could have meetings anywhere from a members driveway to a restaurant parking lot to a public park.  

Other advantage:

-Balloon launch chase vehicle.

-Mobile parts bin

-Anyone want to go to Makerfaire or SXSW?

-Built-in advertising.

-Tailgating!

-It IS a hackerspace project (or 50)

-We would be the first, so we'd get a ton of press. (Hackaday, Make magazine, etc)

Here's a site with used ambulances to get you thinking.  http://www.draper2.com/evss1_002.htm

--
Brad Collette
573-427-7132

[Ben Datema]

That would be so cool!  I don't know anything about how to do it, but I'd be all in to lend a hand.  I think having any space - mobile or not - would be fantastic.

Ben 

[Scott.K...@gmail.com]

I like the mobile space idea. Frankly, I am sort of willing to run with any idea. But a rolling hackerspace is pretty different. Are you volunteering parking, Brad?

I remembered this article from MAKE that has a lot of advice on what goes into a mobile lab/workshop:
http://blog.makezine.com/2010/05/14/make-it-anywhere-with-a-mobile-lab/

If we aren't careful here, we are going to think/talk our way out of doing anything... This might be a reasonably low risk (read cheap) way of just pulling the trigger on a bad idea and trying to make it work.

[Ryan]

Can we put flamethrowers on it?

On Apr 8, 12:21 pm, Brad Collette <shopinthewo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I keep thinking about the idea of converting an ambulance into the world's
> first mobile hackerspace.
>
> We could have meetings anywhere from a members driveway to a restaurant
> parking lot to a public park.
>
> Other advantage:
> -Balloon launch chase vehicle.
> -Mobile parts bin
> -Anyone want to go to Makerfaire or SXSW?
> -Built-in advertising.
> -Tailgating!
> -It IS a hackerspace project (or 50)
> -We would be the first, so we'd get a ton of press. (Hackaday, Make
> magazine, etc)
>

> Here's a site with used ambulances to get you thinking.http://www.draper2.com/evss1_002.htm
>
> --
> Brad Collette
> 573-427-7132

[Brad Collette]

I almost think we have a moral obligation to outfit it with flamethrowers.  It's hard to sell the idea of world domination if you aren't using incendiary devices willy nilly.

--
Brad Collette
573-427-7132

[Jon Gabrielson]

I think a mobile hackerspace is a great idea but I don't know if an
ambulance is the best platform. If you want a motor, I would vote
for a school bus but I think that something without a motor would
be cheaper and you simplify license, insurance, maintenance, etc..
if you don't have to worry about an engine. A large trailer should
be fairly cheap and then any member with a hitch could easily
move it.

Jon.

[Ryan]

A trailer would also have potentially more space inside. I like the
idea of the group having something we could take to events around the
city and get a bit more recognition.

On Apr 9, 10:24 am, Jon Gabrielson <j...@directfreight.com> wrote:
> I think a mobile hackerspace is a great idea but I don't know if an
> ambulance is the best platform.  If you want a motor, I would vote
> for a school bus but I think that something without a motor would
> be cheaper and you simplify license, insurance, maintenance, etc..
> if you don't have to worry about an engine.  A large trailer should
> be fairly cheap and then any member with a hitch could easily
> move it.
>
> Jon.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 8, 2012 at 3:28 PM,  <Scott.Kovale...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I like the mobile space idea. Frankly, I am sort of willing to run with any
> > idea. But a rolling hackerspace is pretty different. Are you volunteering
> > parking, Brad?
>
> > I remembered this article from MAKE that has a lot of advice on what goes
> > into a mobile lab/workshop:
> >http://blog.makezine.com/2010/05/14/make-it-anywhere-with-a-mobile-lab/
>
> > If we aren't careful here, we are going to think/talk our way out of doing
> > anything... This might be a reasonably low risk (read cheap) way of just
> > pulling the trigger on a bad idea and trying to make it work.
>

[Brad Collette]

I can work with either idea.  I was originally thinking about the ambulances because they're well equipped with heavy duty cabinets and counters.  Most have external lights that can illuminate a pretty big area and some have compressed air and/or generators or can power equipment from the engine.   They do have to be maintained though.

--
Brad Collette
573-427-7132

[Scott Kovaleski]

I move that we authorize CGW funds to establish a mobile hackerspace and reauthorize the collection of dues to construct and maintain "operation rolling thunder".

There, I did it, someone want to second?

Dr. Scott Kovaleski

Associate Professor

Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Missouri

349 Engineering Building West

Columbia, MO 65211

P: 573-882-8377

F: 573-882-0397

[Scott.K...@gmail.com]

I might add, if we do this, we need lots of quick cut video of things like Dan lowering a welders mask and igniting a welding torch, and Luc and Alex carrying plate steel, etc. Ryan, I am afraid you will need to shave your head into a mohawk and develop a "bad attitude". The theme music from the A-team (circa George Papard and Mr. T, not Liam Neeson and Bradley HandsomeFace) will need to be played on loop continuously through the build. When complete, Zack is obligated to hold a cigar in his teeth and growl "I love it when a plan comes together".

I will now be spending my lunch hour looking for the theme from the 80s TV-show on the interwebs...

[Dan Goldstein]

Oh man you guys are killing me...
Do we get the helicopter?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MVonyVSQoM

I guess the bottom line for me and Luc is simple.
If it will have Fricking Laser turrets we are in...
(Brad can we borrow your 40w laser tube. Promise we will bring it right back...)

Sincerely,
A guy that feels he shouldn't put his name on this e-mail...

--
"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory   out there - good for you.
 
But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of the police forces and the fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory...
 
Now look. You built a factory and it turned into something terrific or a great idea - God bless! Keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and you pay forward for the next kid who comes along."
- Elizabeth Warren (Sept. 2011)

[Brad Collette]

Operation Rolling Thunder:  Second!

On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 9:18 AM, <Scott.K...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
Brad Collette
573-427-7132

[Bill Harrison]

I was going to suggest Ride of the Valkyries, but it's too, what's the
word, nazi-ish. The A-team theme is better. It's not like Gadgetworks is
going to have a Kiwanis club putsch or invade Moberly or anything.

William L. Harrison, Ph.D
Director, Center for High Assurance Computing
Associate Professor of Computer Science
University of Missouri

[Jon Gabrielson]

I was thinking more of the "Sneakers" van.

Jon.

[Scott.K...@gmail.com]

All in favor of Operation Rolling Thunder say "Aye".

AYE!

On , Brad Collette <shopint...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Ben Datema]

Aye'm all for it.  (see what I did there?)

Ben

[Zach Zeman]

LET'S DO THIS!

Er, aye.

Also, I'd like to note that trailers specifically made for shipping containers are available. Then we'd get to learn how to drive a semi!

-Zach

[Dan Goldstein]

Invade Moberly ?
Ok I will second that motion .
Secretary call the role please.

[Chad LaFarge]

This is becoming the coolest project. How much do you want others to know, and when?

Chad

[Brad Collette]

Aye vote Aye too.

I think the first order of business is to develop a spec for the vehicle we want and a budget.  I think to do that we need some expertise.   A couple pieces of work that can be undertaken now to start getting clueful:

Search the ebay completed listings for ambulances and other possible vehicles.  Let's figure out what kinds of features drive price.  I know that some ambulances come with generators and others are wired with inverters.  I'm sure gas/diesel makes a big difference in price but I don't think it makes much difference for our use.

Search GovDeals.com.  I'm sure a lot of municipalities are forced to sell their assets through public auction sites like that.

Maybe someone could set up some saved searches on craigslist for nearby markets or used one of those craigslist search tools.

Anyone have a contact at Sears, Harbor Freight, Grainger, Lowes, or another tool supplier?  A big ole vehicle is prime advertising and I'd gladly stick  someone's sticker on their for a few bucks.  :-) 

What else can we do now?

--
Brad Collette
573-427-7132

[Ben Datema]

Should we create a single space online to keep relevant information that we find? It could be collaborative research project. Kind of liking writing a proposal, but in a less formal way. This might be good to keep everyone at least close to the same page and so that we can all track the progress of the project as people contribute new ideas and info.

Some sections we could have: 

• Vehicles, 
• Tools, 
• Funding sources/project budget, 
• Electrical system ideas, etc.  
• Whatever subjects we can break the larger project down into so that when we have something we know where to put it, and so that the document doesn't become just a long list of entirely random pieces.

My first thought is Google Docs, but there may be a better platform that others on this email list know about.

[Jon Gabrielson]

I would recommend the wikipedia engine. A quick google search turned
up this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_farms

Jon.

[Jon Gabrielson]

On closer examination it looks like http://www.wikia.com/Wikia is the only
one that uses the mediawiki engine. It also is the most popular on that page,
so I would vote for that. mediawiki is an easy way to allow multiple people
to easily add categories and subcategories as information is researched.
One first category would be where the cheapest/best places to purchase
a trailer/vehicle would be.

Jon.

[Scott Kovaleski]

Some craigslistings for your viewing pleasure. I found no ambulances, but trailers, campers, and box trucks. There is a nice looking lathe in here as well.

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/tls/2911269184.html - $1100, Atlas lathe

http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/bfs/2956268807.html - $2500, bigger trailer $35/sqft 6x12
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/fod/2956299549.html - $1000, smaller $25/sqft 5x8
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/rvs/2955843532.html - $8500, Camper trailer ?
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/grd/2945131069.html - $2700, $37.5/sqft 6x12
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/for/2906375717.html - $6000, 26 ft long HUGE trailer
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/rvs/2955262468.html- $1, big camper, ready to deal, don't think he means $1
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/2952498967.html - $2700, moving van or box truck
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/2938968849.html - $4900, big party bus seats 14
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/2912036164.html - $2000, big ole box van
http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/2911603979.html - $2800, 12ft box truck with lift