It all started in Physics class, spring semester 2008.
Harpo and Will had just finished their AP Physics B and our AP Calculus BC tests. Although they still had over a month left of school, two entire classes were now free periods.
Their class discussed options; some decided to chill and/or pass high school. Others, such as Harpo and Will, decided to figure out some stellar project.
We considered many things and often defaulted to pyrotechnics or the Arduino, but found that we often came back to LEGO®. The two of them, as well as their buddy Lyle, all used to be really into Legos. All had an interest in creating a two-speed transmission, simply because that was a task that none of them had not been able to tackle.
Their friend Simon decided to contribute together. All together, they had LEGOs from Will, Harpo, Lyle, and Simon, although Will and Harpo were the only ones that stuck with the project. Everyone contributed normal and Technic pieces. Will chipped in his Mindstorms Scout gear, and Harpo brought along his RCX stuff.
Quickly the project developed in scale, adding four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and independent suspension to the features list. School ended, but the project continued.
For the following year, Harpo and Will met diligently put in about ten hours per weekend.
Unfortunately, by fall of 2009, Harpo was off at Brown, and Will was at UMass Amherst, so the project fell into dormancy. The two always dream of a LC(A)2, complete with NXT, pneumatics, and iPhone app.
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You can contact Will and Harpo here.