Car Thieves vs the Almost Final GlitterBomb 5.0

Mark Rober

16 Dec 202218:21

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn a creative twist on combating package theft, Mark Rober unveils Glitter Bomb 5.0, an ingenious trap using autonomous drones and a massive fart spray reservoir. The script recounts the evolution of the glitter bomb, its impact on deterring porch pirates, and the takedown of a $60 million crime ring. It also highlights the engineering process, the challenges faced, and the ultimate success of the project, showcasing the power of innovation and problem-solving in everyday life.

Takeaways

🎥 The video is a continuation of the 'Glitter Bomb' series by Mark Rober, where he engineers elaborate traps to catch package thieves.
🚀 Glitter Bomb 5.0 introduces the use of autonomous drones for delivering glitter when the package is opened, a significant upgrade from previous versions.
🔍 Mark explains the engineering evolution of the glitter bomb boxes over the years, highlighting improvements in design and function.
🛠️ The video demonstrates the application of engineering skills to create innovative solutions for social issues, such as package theft.
💡 The project was sparked by a personal experience of having a package stolen, which led to a series of events including the takedown of an international crime ring.
👨‍👧‍👦 The script includes interactions with family members, showing the human side of the project and the reactions of different people to the glitter bomb.
📦 The design of the glitter bomb boxes has been refined to prevent thieves from easily disposing of them, including mechanisms to keep the lid open and ensure the package is noticed.
🤖 The use of technology such as drones, sensors, and custom circuit boards showcases the integration of advanced tech in the project.
📱 The video script mentions collaboration with T-Mobile for network coverage, emphasizing the importance of reliable communication for the project's success.
🚗 A car version of the glitter bomb was also created to address the issue of car break-ins, adapting the design to fit different scenarios.
🌐 The video concludes with an update on the impact of the project, including the shutdown of scam call centers and the role of the community in sharing the videos.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation behind creating the Glitter Bomb?
-The creator's package was stolen from his porch, and the police were unresponsive to the incident, prompting him to use his engineering skills to create a deterrent and catch the thieves.
How has the design of the Glitter Bomb evolved over the years?
-The design has evolved to include more advanced features such as biodegradable glitter, a countdown timer, fake police chatter, sticky substances, flashing police lights, conductive charging contacts, and in the final version, autonomous drones for glitter delivery.
What was the purpose of using drones in Glitter Bomb 5.0?
-The drones were used to deliver glitter autonomously around the thief's house, creating a more widespread and harder-to-clean mess as a deterrent to package theft.
How did the creator measure the intensity of the fart spray in the Glitter Bomb?
-A sensor was used to measure the number of particulates in the air, with Glitter Bomb 5.0 having three times more intensity than the previous version.
What was the significance of the one-liter tank of fart spray in the final version of the Glitter Bomb?
-The one-liter tank allowed for a much more potent and longer-lasting smell, making the deterrent significantly more effective.
What was the outcome of placing the Glitter Bomb in a car in San Francisco?
-The Glitter Bomb was not stolen when placed in a car, suggesting that thieves were wary of the conspicuous package and preferred to check for hidden valuables instead.
How did the creator adapt the Glitter Bomb design for car break-ins?
-The creator shrunk the box down to fit into a backpack and modified it to be triggered remotely via text message, allowing for the activation of the fart spray without needing to be opened.
What was the result of the modified backpack Glitter Bomb in car break-ins?
-The backpacks were stolen and resulted in the activation of the fart spray, which eventually led to the thieves discarding the backpacks due to the unbearable smell.
What was the impact of the video exposing scam call centers in India?
-The video led to the shutdown of three scam call centers that had been operational for over a decade, with top officials arrested, thanks to the attention it received from international law enforcement agencies and the press.
What is the CrunchLabs Build Box and how does it relate to the Glitter Bomb creator?
-The CrunchLabs Build Box is a monthly subscription service that delivers engineering projects to subscribers' doorsteps. The creator of the Glitter Bomb, Mark Rober, teaches the principles of physics and engineering through these projects, similar to the creative problem-solving he demonstrated with the Glitter Bomb.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Glitter Bomb 5.0: The Ultimate Revenge on Porch Pirates

The script introduces the Glitter Bomb 5.0, a sophisticated device designed to catch package thieves, or 'porch pirates'. The creator narrates the evolution of the glitter bomb over five years, culminating in a version that uses autonomous drones to deliver glitter when the package is opened. The device was initially a simple box with a spinning cup that released glitter, but it has since incorporated various features like biodegradable glitter, fake police chatter, and sticky substances to deter thieves. The script also mentions the creator's engineering skills and the police's inaction after the theft of a $6 package, which led to the creation of the glitter bomb. The final version, Glitter Bomb 5.0, includes a one-liter tank of fart spray and an advanced system for releasing it, along with mini drones that autonomously disperse glitter throughout a thief's home.

05:02

🚔 The Sister Box: Combating Car Break-Ins with a Fart Spray Surprise

The script describes a sister box designed to deter car break-ins, a common occurrence in San Francisco. The box is rigged to release a liter of fart spray per minute once activated, either by being opened or remotely via text message. It includes a 360-degree camera that pops up to record the incident and retracts if tampered with. The creator placed these boxes in cars and on porches to observe the thieves' reactions. The thieves' modus operandi is discussed, including how they often leave doors open to signal that there are no valuables inside. Despite the initial failure of the car boxes due to their size, the creator adapted by creating a smaller, backpack-sized version that successfully attracted thieves' attention and activated the fart spray when stolen.

10:04

🕵️‍♂️ Adaptation and Persistence: Thieves Evolve to Avoid the Glitter Bomb Trap

This section of the script details the thieves' adaptation to the glitter bomb strategy, as they began to recognize and avoid the suspicious packages. The creator observed that thieves would break car windows to check the trunk without stealing anything, indicating that placing valuables in the trunk is not a deterrent. Despite the challenges, the creator persisted, eventually succeeding with a smaller backpack version of the glitter bomb that was stolen and activated by the thieves, filling their cars with the foul spray. The script emphasizes the importance of learning from failure and adapting strategies to achieve the desired outcome.

15:05

🎁 The Positive Impact: Decreasing Thefts and the Power of Public Awareness

The script concludes with a reflection on the impact of the glitter bomb videos, which have led to a decrease in package thefts and an increase in Good Samaritans. The creator suggests that the videos may have influenced potential thieves to reconsider their actions. Additionally, the script highlights the success of a previous video that exposed scam call centers in India, leading to their shutdown and the arrest of top officials. The creator then promotes the CrunchLabs Build Box, a monthly subscription service that teaches engineering principles and problem-solving skills, encouraging viewers to think and build like engineers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Glitter Bomb

A glitter bomb is a device designed to release a large amount of glitter as a prank or deterrent. In the video, the creator, Mark Rober, uses a glitter bomb to deter package thieves, highlighting its evolution from a simple glitter release mechanism to one involving autonomous drones. The glitter bomb serves as a central theme, illustrating the engineering process and the consequences of theft.

💡Porch Pirates

Porch pirates refer to thieves who steal packages left on porches. The video's narrative revolves around the creator's response to a personal experience with porch piracy, leading to the development of the glitter bomb. The term is used to describe the individuals who become victims of the glitter bomb's trap.

💡Autonomous Drones

Autonomous drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that operate independently without direct human control. In the script, Mark Rober mentions hacking mini drones and rewriting their code to deliver glitter autonomously. This technology is a key element of Glitter Bomb 5.0, showcasing the integration of advanced robotics in a creative and humorous way.

💡Fart Spray

Fart spray is a product designed to release an odor similar to that of flatulence. In the video, it is used as part of the glitter bomb's payload, increasing in quantity with each version to create a more intense and unpleasant experience for the thief. The term is humorously used to describe a component of the glitter bomb that adds to its deterrent effect.

💡Engineering Skills

Engineering skills refer to the abilities and knowledge required to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, or systems. Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer, uses his engineering skills to create the glitter bomb, demonstrating how these skills can be applied in unconventional ways to solve problems or achieve a goal.

💡Peristaltic Pump

A peristaltic pump is a type of pump that moves fluid by the action of a rotating cam turning a series of rollers, which compresses a flexible tube. In the script, it is used to continually force fart spray through nozzles in the glitter bomb, illustrating a practical application of this technology in an innovative context.

💡Custom Printed Circuit Board

A custom printed circuit board (PCB) is a board designed for a specific electronic device, incorporating various electronic components. In the video, an upgraded custom PCB is used to house the brains of the glitter bomb system, emphasizing the importance of electronics in modern engineering projects.

💡Smash-and-Grab

Smash-and-grab refers to a crime where a perpetrator breaks a window or other barrier to quickly steal items, typically from a vehicle. The video discusses the prevalence of smash-and-grab crimes in San Francisco and how the creator's design adapts to this type of theft, making it a relevant concept in the context of the glitter bomb's deployment.

💡GPS Tracking

GPS tracking involves using the Global Positioning System to locate an object or person on Earth. In the script, embedded GPS in the glitter bomb allows the creator to track the device after it has been stolen, demonstrating the use of GPS for monitoring and recovery purposes.

💡Fencing Operation

A fencing operation is a scheme where stolen goods are sold quickly to a middleman, who then resells them for a profit. The video script mentions this term to describe how stolen items are handled in the black market, providing insight into the larger criminal ecosystem that the glitter bomb is designed to combat.

💡CrunchLabs Build Box

The CrunchLabs Build Box is a subscription-based service that delivers monthly engineering projects to subscribers. Mark Rober mentions this service as a way for viewers to learn engineering principles and develop problem-solving skills. It represents an educational aspect of the video, encouraging viewers to engage with engineering concepts.

Highlights

Introduction of Glitter Bomb 5.0 with autonomous drone delivery of glitter.

Recollection of the evolution of the glitter bomb from a simple concept to a high-tech trap over five years.

The glitter bomb's design includes a peristaltic pump and a one-liter tank of fart spray, 50 times more than the previous version.

Use of biodegradable glitter and a custom printed circuit board for improved operation.

Integration of mini drones programmed to autonomously disperse glitter throughout a thief's home.

Innovation of a sister box designed for car break-ins with remote activation and GPS tracking.

Observation of thieves' behavior and adaptation to avoid traps, indicating the need for continuous design iteration.

Experimentation with different box sizes to optimize the chances of theft and subsequent prank activation.

Deployment of the glitter bomb in various locations and the recording of thieves' reactions.

Analysis of the decrease in package thefts and increase in Good Samaritans, suggesting social impact.

Infiltration and exposure of scam call centers in India leading to their shutdown and arrests of top officials.

The engineering process of trial, failure, and adjustment as key to innovation and problem-solving.

Introduction of the CrunchLabs Build Box, a monthly subscription service for learning engineering principles.

Description of the educational value of the Build Box in teaching both building and thinking like an engineer.

Promotion of a holiday special offering two free months with the Build Box subscription.

Emphasis on the importance of engineering as a creative and impactful field, with the ability to turn dreams into reality.

Transcripts

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