The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

Day: August 29, 2011

  • Antenna Decoration

    Dragonfly on antenna
    Dragonfly on antenna

    This dragonfly decided that the tip of the 2 m / 70 cm antenna on Mary’s bike was the best  place around to survey the area; it periodically zipped off to snag a meal, then returned to stand watch again.

    Those wraparound compound eyes don’t miss much!

    Dragonfly on antenna - detail
    Dragonfly on antenna – detail

    A few weeks ago, a much larger dragonfly bounced off my helmet and snagged itself in the delay line coil near the middle of the antenna: the dragonfly’s head slid 1/4 turn around the coil and latched firmly in place. Amid much buzzing of wings and thrashing of legs, I managed to unscrew the poor critter, whereupon it flew off undamaged.