.... and then you can try to make one on your own! Someone made one called "Daintywalker" that is adorable.
Click here to try Sodaplay.

legs? the future of transportation?

while flying cars - what most of the people expect in future - seem to be quite far away, other ways of transportation without wheels could knock out pirelli and others much faster than expected.

theo jansen, who made the strandbeests, shows - even if it never was his idea - how the end of the wheel could look like:

if you want to see the strandbeests waking up to life, visit theo jansen´s homepage at www.strandbeests.com

legs? the future of transportation?

while flying cars - what most of the people expect in future - seem to be quite far away, other ways of transportation without wheels could knock out pirelli and others much faster than expected.

theo jansen, who made the strandbeests, shows - even if it never was his idea - how the end of the wheel could look like:

if you want to see the strandbeests waking up to life, visit theo jansen´s homepage at www.strandbeests.com

Theo Jansen is a seriously dedicated to manufacturing a type of artificial life form through the creative use of simple locomotion algorithms which simulate evolutionary modes.  Genetic algorithms can be modified to solve a variety of problems in real life including figuring out special circuit designs and even more complex systems.

A specific type of 'fitness' variable is introduced into the algorithm; for example, in the Theo Jansen's latest project, the artificial creatures must be engineered to survive on the beach while moving around within two enclosing lines.  One line is that of the wet sand near the ocean and the other line is the dry sand at the edge of the beach. Those creations deemed best at the assigned task within the modeled beach environment are fused together as if 'bred' and then tested again.

Over time, continually complex designs emerge; one has sprouted wings that flap in the breeze.  Another model's undulating wings pressurize soda bottle 'lungs'. In a more advanced model, articulated legs sprout and scuttle across the sand like those of a crab. Jansen uses electrical conduit to continue with his personal evolutionary experiment; he then lets his creatures roam autonomously on the beach, measures their success, and updates each model.

Here is a 10-minute YouTube video from Theo Jansen's presentation at the TED conference called, "The Art of Creating Creatures:"

The Transport or 'rhinoceros' was the first Theo Jansen piece I really ever saw; it is a marvelous and perfect hybrid of art and engineering that appears just as beautiful in real life as it does in the computer program.

The beach creatures will be roaming the sands over the next few years. I think the one below is called "Ventosa."

One of the digital renderings that is really impressive is the next evolutionary iteration: number 65 which looks much less like his past skeletal arthropods and more towards the next rung up in Mother Nature's ladder, a beetle (so very exciting!):

For a full gallery of excellent photographs for online viewing, check out Jansen's own website full of musings, strandbeest.com.

ไม่ใช่ทุกวันที่คุณจะบังเอิญได้เจอกับสิ่งมีชีวิตสายพันธุ์ใหม่ ซึ่งนั่นเป็นสิ่งที่ปฏิมากร (kinetic sculptor) ชาวฮอลแลนด์ Theo Jansen สรรค์สร้างขึ้น เจ้า  Strandbeasts(แปลไทย สัตว์ประหลาดชายทะเล...?) เป็นหุ่นยนต์เคลื่อนไหวโดยอัตโนมัติ ด้วยพลังงานลมที่น่าตื่นตาตื่นใจ มันเคลื่อนไหวได้อย่างคล่องแคล่วราวสิ่งมีชีวิต ในขณะที่ย่องผ่านลมที่พัดริมหาดทราย ริมทะเล ชิ้นส่วนข้อต่อที่ถูกต่อเข้าอย่างประณีตนั้นใช้อัลกอริทึมเดียวกับสิ่งมีชีวิตและปรับตัวตามสภาพแวดล้อมได้

Theo Jansen สร้างสิ่งมีชีวิตพลังงานลมตัวอย่างนี้ขึ้นมาตั้งแต่ปี 1990 ซึ่งตอนนั้นสิ่งเหล่านี้ยังเป็นเพียงแค่เครื่องกลไกง่ายๆ ที่สามารถตอบสนองต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมรอบตัวได้เท่านั้น "เวลาผ่านไป โครงกระดูกเหล่านี้พัฒนาดีขึ้นเรื่อยๆ มันสามารถเดินกลางพายุได้ ลุยน้ำได้ ถ้ามีโอกาสผมอยากพาพวกมันทั้งฝูงไปเดินบนชายหาดแล้วปล่อยให้มันมีชีวิตของมันเอง"

ติดตามเรื่องราวต่อได้ ที่นี่

Vanavond ( 17-09 ) was nederlands kunstenaar Theo Jansen te gast. Hij is geïnteresseerd in 'het mechanisme van het lopen' en bouwt allerhande skeletachtige constructies gemaakt uit pvc-buizen die daadwerkelijk kunnen lopen.

Voor video's en foto's van zijn werk kan je terecht op zijn website . Maar zo goed als ik ben heb ik al enkele video's van zijn werk voor je klaar gezet.

1. Reclame voor BMW met zijn werk in
2. 10 minuten-durend filmpje vanop TED-beurs
3. Zijn Animaris Rhinoceros in actie

Todavía se puede asistir a la exposición "maquinas y almas" del Museo Reina Sofía donde descubrí el trabajo hipnótico del artista Sachiko Kodama y donde casi se podían tocar las esculturas de Theo Jansen (el escultor que salía en el anuncio de BMW).

Pero lo más interesante de la exposición era la reflexión que se exponía en la introducción.

El uso de la tecnología de un modo sensible. Conseguir que estos "artefactos" conecten con la gente. Es algo aplicable a todo, y con ello me refiero también a la arquitectura, con la que estoy más relacionado.

Os dejo un video de la instalación de Sachiko Kodama aunque el directo es mucho más sugerente

And this is his art.

And they move!

Theo Jansen (born March 17, 1948, in The Hague, Netherlands) is a Dutch artist and kinetic sculptor. He builds large works which resemble skeletons of animals and are able to walk using the wind on the beaches of the Netherlands. His animated works are a fusion ofart and engineering; in a BMW television commercial, Jansen says, "The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds."

Jansen is dedicated to creating artificial life through the use of genetic algorithms, which simulate evolution inside their code. Genetic algorithms can be modified to solve a variety of problems including circuit design, and in the case of Jansen's creations, complex systems. Some measure of "fitness" is introduced into the algorithm; in Theo's case it is to survive on the beach while moving around within two enclosing lines on the wet sand near the ocean and the dry sand at the edge of the beach. Those designs best at the assigned task within the modeled beach environment are bred together and graded again. Over time complex designs emerge which sprout wings and flap in the breeze pressurizing what look like plastic two liter soda bottles. Articulated legs sprout and scuttle across the sand like those of a crab. Jansen uses plastic electrical conduit to make some of the computer's most promising designs; and he then lets them roam free on the beach, measures their success, and updates his model.

Since about ten years ago, Theo Jansen is occupied with the making of a new nature. Not pollen or seeds but plastic yellow tubes are used as the basic material of this new nature. He makes skeletons which are able to walk on the wind. Eventually he wants to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives.

You can visit www.strandbeest.com for more on Theo Jansen.

Jansen also made A BMW Commercial for South Africa

Here's a TED talk he gave.

And yes I do ride this guys jock, so what.

Thnx Gizmodo

“Theo Jansen has been creating wind-walking examples of artificial life since 1990. What was at first a rudimentary breed has slowly evolved into a generation of machines that are able to react to their environment: “over time, these skeletons have become increasingly better at surviving the elements such as storms and water and eventually I want to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives.” From >Inhabitat

These sculptural ‘animals’ are amazing; like a combination of DaVinci and David Cronenberg. Jansen has hit upon a form that resonates with a sense of the future/past as present; fairy tales, dinosaurs and mythical beasts.

from> (incli)NATION via east coast Architecture review

More on youtube: Theo Jansen

find mr.jansen here

http://www.strandbeest.com/

"Since 1990 I have been occupied creating new forms of life.

Not pollen or seeds but plastic yellow tubes are used as the basic material of this new nature. I make skeletons that are able to walk on the wind, so they don’t have to eat.

Over time, these skeletons have become increasingly better at surviving the elements such as storms and water and eventually I want to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives."

Theo Jansen

www.strandbeest.com/

Gott-sei-lob-und-dank! Es gibt noch Dinge, die mich zum Staunen bringen können! Und gleichzeitig die Augen zum Strahlen!
Als ich gestern ziemlich "schlaff" und von der Hitze k.o. mich vor dem Bildschirm niederließ, durchquerten seltsam anmutende Kreaturen die Mattscheibe und nahmen mich sofort "gefangen": es waren die faszinierenden kinetischen Skulpturen des holländischen Künstlers Theo Jansen. Optisch scheinbar ungelenk, aber mit einer anmutig empfundenen Bewegung liefen (oder gingen? ...) sie über den Strand, ausschließlich von der Kraft des Windes angetrieben - bzw., wie später der Künstler erklärte, "... ihre Nahrung ist der Wind". (Der wunderbare Filmbeitrag von 3sat, hier)

Theo Jansen's "Rhinozerus", 3,5 Tonnen schwer

"Sie können sich selbständig bewegen und sie haben eine Art von Gehirn und ein Gefühl für Wasser, und sie haben Sinne. Das ist nicht einfach nur Luft, wovon ich rede."

Seit 1990 entwickelt der Künstler seine "Strandbeests", für welche er 2005 auch den "Prix Ars Electronica" bekam. Die skelettartigen Gebilde, nun schon in der 7. Generation einer Evolution in Richtung eigenständig lebender Wesen, bestehen aus simpelsten Materialien: Plastikrohre, Kabelbinder, Nylonfäden, Klebebänder. Und einem selbst entwickelten Verfahren zur Speicherung der Windenergie. So sind die Strandbiester auch bei Flaute beweglich. Bei ankommendem Sturm verankern sie sich selbstständig im Sand und ändern die Laufrichtung, wenn sie ins Wasser kommen.

"Ich habe das Gefühl, eine Aufgabe zu haben: Menschen glücklicher zu machen. Ich glaube, das ist ein guter Grund, um so etwas zu tun, oder nicht?"

O ja! Wie recht du hast! Dies scheint in diesen Zeiten notwendiger denn je: man schüttet uns zu mit überschäumendem negativem menschlichen "Irr"-Sinn und dessen Auswüchsen. Und dann kommst du, Theo Jansen, und gibst uns mit deinen wunderschönen Skulpturen Freude , Energie und Motivation zurück!

Die Funktionsweise seiner kinetischen Skulpturen erklärt Theo Jansen auf folgendem Video (die letzten 2 Minuten sind die Werbung eines Automobilherstellers, der die Zusammenarbeit mit Theo Jansen pflegte).
Youtube ist im Übrigen ein unerschöpfliches Reservoir von Filmen von Theo Jansen's Strandbeests und den unzähligen Versuchs-Beispielen seiner Nachahmer!

Hasta el 13 de octubre podéis ver en el Museo Reina Sofía el trabajo de un grupo de artistas sobre arte, ciencia, tecnología y nuevos medios digitales: Theo Jansen, padre creador de una nueva especie, "los animales de playa", auténticos seres vivos construidos a base de plástico y con autonomía propia, cuya imagen aprovechó BMW para su "Defining innovation"; Sachiko Kodama, que realiza auténticas esculturas con ferrofluidos y fuerzas magnéticas de una belleza oscura y misteriosa; o Daniel Rozin, el creador de los "espejos mecánicos"; y otros de los artistas más punteros en medios digitales.

La ciencia y la tecnología al servicio de la creatividad. Y una exposición, ante todo interactiva, totalmente al servicio del espectador.

Di recente mi è capitato di essere trasportato, "surfando" youtube, tra tre diverse ineressanti scoperte che avevo fatto negli ultimi tempi: da solo non le avevo mai abbinate tra loro.

Ripercorrendo la scoperta per come l'ho vissuta, bisogna partire dal gioco flash Fantastic Contraption.

Stavo cercando una delle possibili –ed intriganti– soluzioni agli enigmi basati su sistemi di leve, pulegge, ruote e svariate leggi fisiche quando mi sono imbattuto in Phun, gioco gratuito, standalone, anch'esso basato su leggi fisiche (cross-platform).

Da qui ho notato questo seguente video, di cui avevo già visto qualcosa di simile dalle parti di GiovanniRe.

Da lì in poi fermarsi è stato molto difficile...

All Good.

 “The Animaris Rhinoceros Transport"  este un tip de animal cu schelet de otel  imbracat intr-o pielita de poliester ce lasa impresia ca animalul este acoperit cu un strat gros de nisip. Desi cantareste doua tone instalatia poate fi pusa in miscare de o singura persoana. Avand o inaltime de 4.70 metri "The Animaris Rhinoceros Transport" primeste suficienta fortza din partea vantului pentru a se misca.

YouTube video:

Cititi un interviu al lui Mark Hurst cu Theo Jansen pe  goodexperience.com  (engleza)

vizitati ARTFUTURA ca sa vedeti un catalog  cu lucrarile lui Theo Jansen

En el proyecto Strandbeest sus "animales de playa" se clasifican en varias especies con nombres científicos como Rhinoceros Transport, Geneticus Ondula o Currens Ventosa.

Este proyecto le valió el patrocinio de la casa automotriz BMW. Seguramente vieron en su trabajo una oportunidad para iluminar su marca con un aura innovadora, de fe en el desarrollo humano, más allá de las tecnologías convencionales. En un anuncio de BMW, Jansen dijo: "Las barreras entre el arte y la ingeniería existen sólo en nuestra mente", ¿Qué mejor frase para definir el espíritu que BMW quiere proyectar?

Para leer más sobre Theo Jansen o visita Strandbeest

Theo Jansen (born March 17, 1948, in The Hague, Netherlands) is a Dutch artist and kinetic sculptor. He builds large works which resemble skeletons of animals and are able to walk using the wind on the beaches of the Netherlands. His animated works are a fusion of art and engineering; and in a BMW television commercial, Jansen says, "The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds."

Jansen is dedicated to creating artificial life through the use of genetic algorithms, which simulate evolution inside their code. Genetic algorithms can be modified to solve a variety of problems including circuit design, and in the case of Jansen's creations, complex systems. Some measure of "fitness" is introduced into the algorithm; in Theo's case it is to survive on the beach while moving around within two enclosing lines on the wet sand near the ocean and the dry sand at the edge of the beach. Those designs best at the assigned task within the modeled beach environment are bred together and graded again. Over time complex designs emerge which sprout wings and flap in the breeze pressurizing what look like plastic two liter soda bottles. Articulated legs sprout and scuttle across the sand like those of a crab. Jansen uses plastic electrical conduit to make some of the computer's most promising designs; and he then lets them roam free on the beach, measures their success, and updates his model.