For anyone who wants to know more:<p>This is an application of Jansen's linkage:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jansen%27s_linkage" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jansen%27s_linkage</a><p>There are other similar linkages but Jansen's is quite good.<p>For anyone who doesn't have an idea why something like this matters or is inspiring beyond art, legged vehicles have many downsides but one big upside is that you can theoretically avoid the rubber/microplastic particulate emission associated with tires and wheeled vehicles if you can make legged vehicles as good as wheeled ones.<p>Even an electric battery vehicle with an electric motor charged by a solar/wind/nuclear power plant still emits pure poison into the air and waterways through friction between tires and the road.<p>Good alternatives would be biocompatible tires (Nitinol mesh tires like SMART Tire company's initial prototype that lacked the rubber coating) or legged vehicles.
These are fantastic. Reminds me of the structures ("choruses"?) from "A Topiary" script by Shane Carruth (the same bloke who made Primer). The first act's "pattern-seeking" premise is great, too. I think anyone who enjoys films such as Aronofsky's Pi, Linklater, Kaufman, etc would enjoy at least skimming through the first act.<p>- Script: <a href="https://indiegroundfilms.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/a-topiary-numbered.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://indiegroundfilms.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/20...</a><p>- Script Reviews: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17338551-a-topiary" rel="nofollow">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17338551-a-topiary</a><p>- Trailer (Not sure if legit) showing the Strandbeest-like creatures: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16vaQ9Tv8Lc" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16vaQ9Tv8Lc</a>
Since the video on the site isn't working
<a href="https://youtu.be/C97kMKwZ2-g?feature=shared" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/C97kMKwZ2-g?feature=shared</a>
OK I'll be the one. Not sure why these get so much love. Sure they're cool-looking untethered kites but all the nonsense about "creating new forms of life" - really?
I love simulation theory because it keeps me from going insane when I think of something randomly and it's on the front page of HN the next day (for the first time in 7 months).<p>Anyway these would be cool if they could actually move humans. Imagine crossing a vast desert with some friends on one of these bad boys.
I remember seeing an exhibition of these many years ago that included demos [1]. It was outstanding (evidenced by the fact that I still remember). I wonder if he still does tours and exhibitions. If so, be sure to check them out.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/strandbeest.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/strandbe...</a>
Really love the idea of the strandbeest :)<p>He also sells little miniature ones too - <a href="https://www.strandbeest.com/shop/animaris-ordis-parvus" rel="nofollow">https://www.strandbeest.com/shop/animaris-ordis-parvus</a>
There's this guy I met at Maker Faire Tokyo last year who builds walking things (including Strandbeests) out of single-use chopsticks and a dollar-store lint remover for propulsion. If you're interested he has a YouTube channel, <a href="https://youtube.com/@miseclinic" rel="nofollow">https://youtube.com/@miseclinic</a>
Relatedly, here's a 3D printed, mechanical version of it: <a href="https://youtu.be/nHqqCRVlUus?si=p_q78n_nKYZhykNt" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/nHqqCRVlUus?si=p_q78n_nKYZhykNt</a> -- By Engineezy, great YouTube channel.
I love the Strandbeesten. I've never seen them in real life, but I just love the philosophy and the videos.<p>We have a fossil of one of them that we purchased from the artist which is always a good conversation piece when we have guests.
I stumbled upon Theo's Instagram page a while ago and I was stunned at how cool his inventions are. I'd really underrated how well one could bridge engineering and art.<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theojansen_official/" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/theojansen_official/</a>
I can remember first seeing these in Theo’s 2007 Ted Talk. I must have drawn than linkage about 10,000 times over the next few years. I always had big dreams of raiding dad’s plumbing supplies to make a version of one.
Beautiful video with an update on the evolutionary development (up to 2021)<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C97kMKwZ2-g" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C97kMKwZ2-g</a>