At 3B Scientific we love to discover new ways to develop and celebrate our passion for science.
Stumbling across the work of Dutchman, Theo Jansen, has been a delight and a surprise! Theo is an engineer, scientist, artist ..and kinetic sculptor! He studied Physics at the University of Delft and whilst there became involved in projects that involved both art and technology.
"The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds." - Theo Jansen
We can honestly say, that we've never seen anything like Theo's 'Strandbeest'
The startling 'lifeforms' that walk on the wind are made from recyclable materials, including plastic bottles, and are grouped into 'herds' on the beach in Delft, near the North Sea.
This is no April Fool's joke, Theo Jansen is very serious about his hopes for the creatures he has termed 'Animari'. He has devised a new type of genetic code (the number of tubes plus the length of each tube) to construct the Animari. Using this code he is able to refine their structures and what they are capable of. Some versions of his Strandbeest (beach animals) are not just capable of movement but are also able to collect and store the power of the wind. Some can even anchor themselves if the wind proves too strong and threatens to blow them away. Others seem to be able to detect if they stray too close to the shoreline and, sensing the approaching waves, scuttle away.
The original Strandbeest design has multiple pairs of legs set on a central crankshaft. You can see in this video (below) that Theo has adapted the look of his original 'Strandbeest' .. we think they look like a new breed of Rhinoceros or Elephant. What do you think?
Are you interested in creating your own science experiments? Do you think you could create something to rival Theo Jansen's Strandbeest?
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