For more than 15 years, we've been writing about the strandbeests, Theo Jansen's incredibly, multilegged windwalking machines that clatter their way along in eerily lifelike fashion (I even wrote them into my fiction).
Wouter Scheublin's 2006 design for a Walking Table echoes Theo Jansen's iconic Strandbeest: the complex mechanical linkages on the legs allow the table to walk when it's given a moderately firm shove.
Izzy Swan's drill-powered walking-machine uses a leg-design inspired by the wind-walking strandbeest and connects it to a ride-'em platform for the pilot.
Theo Jansen's amazing, wind-walking Strandbeest (featured in my story the Man Who Sold the Moon) can be had as a 6-inch-cubed snap-together, 80-piece, chunky "rhino" kit: assemble and blow on it and it will walk across your desk with the odd majesty of the Strandbeest.
Last saturday Gakken celebrated the 10th anniversary of the series 'Otona no Kagaku': an hybrid of magazine and book with an educational toy attached to each release. Beside showing the complete collection of the cult toys released in a decade, Toshiyuki Nishimura chef editor of the pubblication, presented the Animaris Imperio: a new kit based on Theo Jansen mechanical animals.
Metrod's Panterragaffe is a rideable strandbeest (Theo Jansen's wonderful kinetic sculpture). There've been strandeests for hamsters and 3D printed strandbeests, but none are as sweet as perching on the seat of a strandbeest built for two. It was created by Metrods, in West Vancouver, a studio that does work for hire. — Read the rest
I've written here before about Theo Jansen's marvellous walking mechanical Strandbeests (and the glorious hamster-powered version). Now Jansen's set up shop on Shapeways, the 3D printing place, and he's selling 3D printed versions of the eerie walkers for $105.
— Read the restDesigning the Beests this way proved quite the challenge.
The mad genius at Crafbuartworks created a miniature, hamster-powered strandbeest walker. The walker is hamstered by the intrepid Princess, who is a champ.
— Read the restThe hamster powered? that's just stupid, which is the exact reason why I did it. It's different, hasn't been done before, yet it's in so many what's-under-the-hood jokes.
Pedaalbeest is a wildly cool walking contraption by Aat Dirks and As Lakerveld, in the tradition of the famed Strandbeests.
To operate this unique machine, one stands on two pedals in the center and moves their legs up and down, which causes the 4 legs of the metal walking machine to move. — Read the rest
See artist Theo Jansen's out-of-this-world sculpture "caterpillar" in action. Jansen is an artist and inventor who makes giant, intricate moving sculptures called "Strandbeests" that look both prehistoric and futuristic at the same time. — Read the rest
The headline is conjuring up images of a dark, spooky castle as a wannabe Dr. Frankenstein leans over a horrific, blood-spattered operating table—but Theo Jansen and his Strandbeests (previously at Boing Boing) are a far cry from the pages of any gothic horror novel. — Read the rest
This gorgeous 4-1/2 minute video features some of Dutch kinetic sculptor, Theo Jansen's, most recent creations. He writes in the video's description:
— Read the restStrandbeest Evolution 2021 provides an update on the evolutionary development. Every spring I go to the beach with a new beast.
Y Nakajima's "Skull Walker 2.0" used the skull off an older sculpture and a HEXBUG Strand Beast Toy Figure (inspired by Theo Jansen's Strandbeest walkers) to create this brilliant piece of nightmare fuel. (via Laughing Squid)
Makers and hackers develop a robot that creates building materials from sand, and set out to send their 3D-printing marvel to the moon. In the way of their dreams? Code, crowdfunding and cancer.
Wired visited the garage of my friend I-Wei Huang, which is loaded with his delightful little creations, including a Strandbeest-style hamster ball walker. (For his day job, I-Wei designs the characters for the Skylanders games.)
Wired garage interview with I-Wei Huang
Previously:
Though we're delighted to have our own online toystore up this holiday season, there are a thousand things we could recommend from elsewhere. Cutting it down to a couple of hundred, for our fourth annual gift guide, wasn't easy; this year was a fantastic one for books, games, gadgets and much else besides. From stocking stuffers to silly cars, take yer pick.
previously on web zen:
group show 2005
Link, Web Zen Home and Archives, Store (Thanks Frank!) — Read the rest
