Wind Powered Walkers
Dutch
scientist turned author
artist
Theo Jansen has spent the last 17 years creating
wind powered walking beasts that prowl the beaches. These machines are basically
pushed by the wind setting in motion the mechanically-driven walking sequences.
The beasts themselves are made of cheap plastic tubing and cable ties, yet can
reach gargantuan proportions: one of them weighs close
to two tons. Wired has a good
article (and some video) about the man and machines (though short on
technical details.) You can also check out Jansen's website that has tons
of great pictures.
He goes into a bit of wishful thinking about how he wants to make them self-reproduce, selecting the best parts of "genetic code" (lengths of plastic tubing) in contests on the beach. A little nutty sounding, but hey - I wouldn't have thought two ton walking plastic monsters were possible either.
He goes into a bit of wishful thinking about how he wants to make them self-reproduce, selecting the best parts of "genetic code" (lengths of plastic tubing) in contests on the beach. A little nutty sounding, but hey - I wouldn't have thought two ton walking plastic monsters were possible either.
Posted: Mon - January 24, 2005 at 10:27 AM
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Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
- H.L. Mencken
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