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Wind Powered Walking Machines

Posted by michael on from the strandbeest dept.

MyDixieWrecked writes "PopularScience has an interesting article about some wind powered machines. The creator is working on a new design that will be able to store the power from the wind to keep up momentum even after the wind stops." The creator's website has some more pictures and video.

75 comments

  1. a little off by katalyst · · Score: 3, Interesting

    the title of the submission suggested machines, but hey, these are works of art, evolving moving sculptures. Look bizzare, will fit very will into a sci fi movie (kinda made me think of the new Time Machine movie).
    I still don't understand though as to how he plans to keep them moving after the wind dies down. These must be high effeciency machines to be actually able to move on "legs". I wonder, if they can take any load, or maybe even a person (yah, it may be kinda boring to wait for a strong gust of wind - gives a new perspective of being in the doldrums).

    --
    |/________
    |\A|ALYS|
  2. managment parallels by Porag_Spliffing · · Score: 1

    Somehow I had to think of upper management :-)

    --
    Maybe you live in interesting times
  3. Beautiful by kliment · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I kinda like these. Geek art at its best

    1. Re:Beautiful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this guy is a badass. plain and simple.

  4. Wow... by The+J+Kid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gives a whole new meaning to 'being blown off you feet' !

    --
    Moderation: +4. Modded 70% Funny and 30% Overrated. 100% Saturated.
  5. Mars probe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Could we use something like these to send to Mars, assemble themselves (or have small robots do that) and then keep them walking and taking pictures (and steering away from chasms)?

    Some of the images looked like 3D renderings. So, wonder what the feasibility of all this is...

    1. Re:Mars probe? by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 5, Informative

      The wind on Mars isn't like the wind on Earth.. Since the atmosphere is so thin on Mars, you would have to have friggin enormous sized windstorms to even begin to power such a thing as this.

      --
      Bowie J. Poag

    2. Re:Mars probe? by foniksonik · · Score: 1

      Great idea.

      I wouldn't be surprised if our Dutchman doesn't get a call from NASA or affiliates... with the addition of a small power supply, think solar, these things or their descendants could do a very good job of exporing Mars.

      You could fit a hundred folded up versions of these into the space required for one rover. All of them together would still probably weigh less than a rover if made out of carbon fibre/nano-tubules.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    3. Re:Mars probe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, AFAIK Mars does have storms and winds with huge velocities. Think of the sandstorms which engulf the half of the planet. Or the sand dunes. A strong wind has got to make those.

    4. Re:Mars probe? by merlin_jim · · Score: 2

      The wind on Mars isn't like the wind on Earth.. Since the atmosphere is so thin on Mars, you would have to have friggin enormous sized windstorms to even begin to power such a thing as this.

      I guess it's a good thing that the windstorms on Mars cover entire hemispheres and last for weeks then, huh?

      It's a joke. Laugh.

      --
      I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
  6. new? by tanveer1979 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The concept of storing wind energy for future use has been there for long. It was the practicality that eluded. And this contraption also dosent look so practical.

    IMHO, the best way to use such a device is to use it to generate electricty... instead of walking. The coastel areas and deserts have an amazing amount of wind energy. If only the rulers wake up and spend money on these non-conventional sources rather than bigger bombs.

    --
    My Aurora : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o91ZsGwJYyg
    FB : https://www.facebook.com/TanveersPhotography
    1. Re:new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bigger bombs make the world less complicated (when they are finally used, that is). More energy on the other hand makes the world a more densely populated and thus more complicated place. Simplicity rules.

    2. Re:new? by foniksonik · · Score: 2

      Well creating energy is a wonderful goal but really these types of mechanics aren't well suited to converting wind energy into electrical energy...too much will be lost in the conversion to be of any use, whereas converting to the demonstrated kinetic energy is still viable, though certainly not for moving any amount of extra mass. Remember that these machines are only moving themselves, no payload.

      If Theo can get efficient storage in place then this may change. Still it would require a whole lot of stored energy to do more than they are currently or to have any left over for the rest of us.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  7. watching where you stand by jkcity · · Score: 2, Funny

    so not only will I have to look out making sure I don't stand on jelly fish at the beach I will have to make sure I don't stand on this stuff as well, could get a nasty splinter.

  8. Worth looking at by panurge · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The videos are terrible quality but the image of the thing walking with the wings rippling is undeniably impressive - much more so than any CGI I've seen. And the things themselves have a genuine imaginative quality. They seem to have been influenced by science fiction comics, but they actually work as real structures. That is seriously clever stuff.

    --
    Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.
    1. Re:Worth looking at by arashiken · · Score: 1

      If they had omitted the ridiculous music in those vids, the compression could have been better. The point of that music eludes me.

  9. like clockwork.... by foniksonik · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Much like the sands of the hourglass... blah blah... seriously though, very cool work, just wish the flash control jscript worked on my mac... can't get beyond the funky video of the crank...

    I can see how he plans to store the windpower in the pistons though, springy.

    I like the pictures of the beetles the best... love how he's using ground effects to generate leg movin' vibrations. Makes ya think about bumblebee turbulence, etc. a little.

    So air flows over the tops of these slinkies and creates downward momentum that's converted into forward momentum via lovely sets of lever mechanisms... again, very clockwork. Very cool.

    Gotta love simply principles of physics applied creatively to mechanics.

    Crazy Dutchman!!!!

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    1. Re:like clockwork.... by foniksonik · · Score: 2

      Just to summarize, it looks like he's using windpower instead and/or in addition to gravity(ie: pendulum) to power what are essentially spring and lever actuations, resulting in forward movement. Quite complex relationships to be sure. The fact that he's getting them to do anything is impressive, though less so knowing that he's used extensive computer modeling as a crutch. viva la renaissance!

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    2. Re:like clockwork.... by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 1
      Crazy Dutchman!!!!

      You summoned me?

      --
      Hate me!
    3. Re:like clockwork.... by foniksonik · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Is that you Seth Green? your grandma called the other day asking where you'd run off to. She needs her crack pipe back and you forgot that friday was 'vericose vein massage day'.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  10. Tumbleweeds? by twoslice · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He took a lesson from Mother Nature. Is it just me? or do those look like big tumbleweeds? 'Cause I've seen tumble weeds roll along quite nicely even after the wind stopped.

    One time my girlfriend reeeaally freaked when she saw a tumbleweed rolling right towards us while she was driving. She never saw one before and thought it was going to total the car! Scared the dickens out of me too 'cause I thought she was going to drive us into the ditch just to avoid the thing.

    --

    From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
    1. Re:Tumbleweeds? by foniksonik · · Score: 2

      There is i believe a similar architecture involved but the main difference is that Theo's machines move against the wind not with it.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  11. Stick evolution by Zauss · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That first video on his site reminds me of a couple programs I've seen that do this sort of stick evolution. IIRC, the programs also have a distributed computing type function where they exchange what they evolve with other clients. If anyone's interested:

    Framsticks

    Golem Project

    They're fun programs to try out. Framsticks is still under active development but the Golem Project is no more. Although I believe you can still download the last Golem client from their website.

    Both sites should contain relevant articles/research on stick evolution for anybody who wants to learn more.

  12. Re:fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are correct that RPN is the best.

    Unfortunately, the production of all HP calculators has been discontinued with the exception of the HP10BII, HP12C, and HP30S.

    I blame Carly Fiorina.

  13. 23MB QuickTime Movie of one of them.... by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 4, Informative


    Enjoy.

    Animaris Sabulosa

    Cheers,

    --
    Bowie J. Poag

  14. And when the wind stops blowing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... use a tried and tested fuel: baked beans.

  15. Point of fact.. by mindstrm · · Score: 2

    Energy cannot be created or destroyted, only moved around.

    Creation of energy is not a goal; the efficient transfer of energy is what we strive for.

    Conversion to electrical energy is less efficient than, say, directly to kinetic,yes, but we are relatively good at storing and using electrical energy, and relatively poor at using kinetic energy.

    1. Re:Point of fact.. by foniksonik · · Score: 2

      Sorry i was using the 'vernacular'.

      I was just saying that for example, we humans convert and transfer a lot of energy every day but you don't see us getting kick back checks from the power grid for contributions. On the other hand windmills are very direct and effective at converting and transferring wind power to the power grid. These machines Theo has put together are more like humans than windmills. They are designed for kinetic energy... which is why they are so unique.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    2. Re:Point of fact.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Energy can be destroyed or created. What do you think e=mc^2 stands for?

    3. Re:Point of fact.. by mindstrm · · Score: 1

      Totally.

      As for conversion and trasnfer.. we don't get checks from the power grid because we don't directly contribute, mostly.

      There are of course the ultra cool guerilla contributors... the lucky ones living in places where the power meter will actually run backwards if more power is gneerated in the home.

      More often than not, though, the guerilla power generator doesn't generate much of a surplus, but it does generate most of the power needed for a home, so the amount of grid power used is only a trickle. So effectively, these people do get a check back.

    4. Re:Point of fact.. by mindstrm · · Score: 2

      It says that "Energy is Mass".

      The c^2 is only there in case your energy & mass units are not of equal proportion.

      Thermodynamics also says that the energy in any closed system is a constant.. the universe being one of those systems. If it is a constant, obviosly it cannot be created or destroyed.

      This largely depends on what you view as energy.. but let me ask.. if you view mass and energy as separate things, what do you consider "energy?". Can you cite an example?

  16. AT-AT machine? by schtum · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now if he could just add a cockpit and a steering mechanism to this thing, it would be pretty bad ass. Oh, and some laser cannons.

  17. I had such a machine once... by silence535 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... but it's gone with the wind.

    *duck*

    --
    Dyslectics of the world, untie!
  18. These are machines. by The+Terrorists · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Machines are works of art. :)

    Seriously folks, these could be useful; self-threshing grain for instance, or self-planting seeds? Just drag out wind powered self guiding farm tools some day.

    They don't need to be made of bamboo. They can be made of light metal and have computers in them.

    Wind power is about lots mpre than windmills.

  19. All that is fine and dandy by slashuzer · · Score: 0

    But the point remains that making wind in public isn't considered polite!! And don't even talk about the smell of a few geeks trying to "power" themselves...

  20. Strandbeest by kop · · Score: 2, Informative

    More work and video by theo janssen

    http://www.strandbeest.com/

    Strandbeest means "beach animal"

  21. Imagine... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 3, Funny

    Imagine one of these contraptions lumbering towards you when you're getting a tan on the beach! Even better, imagine a cluster of... nah.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    1. Re:Imagine... by machine+of+god · · Score: 1

      wait, I don't get it. A cluster of what?

  22. Re:23MB QuickTime Movie of one of them.... by foniksonik · · Score: 2

    Thank you JEBUS!!!!! This is my new screensaver... yes, on OS X you can use movies as a screensaver, or a desktop pic (though quite distracting).

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  23. Dutch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope more countries would allow their citizens to smoke pot (they're allowed to drink and smoke anyway) like the Dutch. We would have more outlandish ideas and more wonderful realizations of the most implementable outlandish ideas (such as this one).

  24. We should be skared... by blueswan · · Score: 1

    Here we have a mad scientist, preparing to unleash monstors on the world.
    Sure it looks cute, these wind powered dinosaurs wandering round, but delve into his web site and you find this gem in his description of the laboratory....

    A screen will be placed so that the traffic of highway A13 will not be destructed.....

    Until he unleashes his monstors, Whah Hah Hah

    --
    sigfault - Terminating
    1. Re:We should be skared... by foniksonik · · Score: 2

      Did you see the video of the UFO he unleashed on his home town? hilarious! looks like it flew around causing panic for quite some time....

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  25. It is not created nor destroyed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    E=mc^2 only says how much energy there is in a given mass of matter.

    If you think of a nuclear bomb, the energy doesn't just "appear" nor is it destroyed. It just changes form (high winds, fire, minor earthquake etc.)

    1. Re:It is not created nor destroyed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, this is not about chemical energy, where certain forms of matter bind more energy than others. e=mc^2 is about destroying mass to create energy or the other way around. Unless you're going to stop differentiating between mass and energy, there's no point in choosing a different arbitrary nomenclature and tell others to stop using theirs, which btw is more useful in the context of this discussion.

    2. Re:It is not created nor destroyed by mindstrm · · Score: 2

      No, it's about energy in general.

      e=mc^2 is about energy and mass being the same thing. Read einstein again.
      Or, if you like, how much energy is stored in what we percieve as a mass.

      When you calculate the total energy in the universe, for instance, you do not ignore mass. You can't.

      If energy and mass can be converted, explain how thermodynamics can say that the energy in a closed system is a constant? If it's a constant, where does conversion come into play?

    3. Re:It is not created nor destroyed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reread the comment. I am aware of mass and energy being the same. That's not the point. The point is that even those people who start nitpicking that energy can't be created or destroyed, do differentiate between mass and energy. From an absolute standpoint this is an arbitrary choice, just like saying that a wind power plant creates electrical energy. Telling someone that energy can't be destroyed or created simply means "I know what you mean but I'm going to be a wiseass and correct you anyway, even though my nomenclature is just as arbitrarily unprecise as yours."

    4. Re:It is not created nor destroyed by mindstrm · · Score: 1

      Hey... look. First, we obviously diverted from the original article when I made my first post, and the original poster acknowledge that he was only referring to creating in the standard, everyday meaning.

      So obviously, we are talking about theoretical physics/cosmology here.

      In that sense, the nomenclature that says "energy can be created and destroyed" is not accurate at all, and does not represent modern science.

  26. Looks familiar by saldek · · Score: 4, Informative

    These critters look quite a lot like the Sodaplay constructions.

    Ahh...the memories. I must've wasted hours of time experimenting with these at work.

  27. Undeniably Fascinating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can see the story right now. Aeons after we destroy ourselves aliens arrive to find only these last contraptions wandering the earth, the last remains of our civilization. Or perhaps we something like these on mars.

    I can forsee other possible applications, but nothing under the horizon. Lets all remember that power sources are the single most major bottleneck of any sort of robot or electronic system not directly connected to the grid. And since battery technology advances like the turtle, there may be hope yet.

    If nothing else, this is the coolest thing I've seen in awhile on slashdot. Beats the hell outta the lego posts.

  28. Okay.. correction.. it's early... by mindstrm · · Score: 2

    It says "energy and matter are equal"

    mass is a result of energy density. If you wind up your watch, it gets heavier (though probably not measurably so by us humans, as the amount of energy added to the system is such a small fraction of the energy already present)

  29. Re:23MB QuickTime Movie of one of them.... by ath0mic · · Score: 2, Funny


    My favourite quote: They don't have to eat because they get their energy from the wind.

    Yah, that and they're mechanical objects.

  30. 'What giants?' asked Sancho Panza. by Speare · · Score: 3, Funny

    'What giants?' asked Sancho Panza.

    'Those you see there,' replied his master, 'with their long arms. Some giants have them about six miles long.'

    'Take care, your worship,' said Sancho; 'those things over there are not giants but windmills, and what seem to be their arms are the sails, which are whirled round in the wind and make the millstone turn.'

    'It is quite clear,' replied Don Quixote, 'that you are not experience in this matter of adventures. They are giants, and if you are afraid, go away and say your prayers, whilst I advance and engage them in fierce and unequal battle.'

    --Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter 8

    --
    [ .sig file not found ]
  31. What happens by The+Kow · · Score: 2, Funny

    when they get blown over in heavy winds?

    --
    Moo
  32. You know you're burned out... by Space_Nerd · · Score: 1

    ...When instead of reading Wind powered walking machines you read Wind powered washing machines.

    Damn, i need to cut back on that black cofee.

    --
    Everybody has a purpose in life, maybe mine is to lurk in slashdot.
  33. We've had these for years! by DJerman · · Score: 2

    No wait, sorry, I was thinking of Wind Powered TALKING Machines -- Politicians.

    --
  34. You mean like... by anvilmark · · Score: 2, Informative

    these?

  35. Reminds me of sodaplay.com by Mustang+Matt · · Score: 2

    sodaplay.com is a cool site where you can build 3d objects that move.

    --
    The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. - Benjamin Franklin
    1. Re:Reminds me of sodaplay.com by floydigus · · Score: 2

      They might 'feel' 3D, but those are 2D, my friend.

      --

      All things in moderation; including moderation

  36. inspiration by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    discovered when somebody tried to fly a kite while on stilts :-)

    I saw this dumb "Stupid People Tricks" show where this one guy snow-skied on top of a ladder. The bottom of the ladder had skies, and he was on top steps of the ladder. He actually did pretty well considering. Went about 30 feet or so before falling. I bet he had a sore bum in the morning, though.

    I wonder what the hell was going through the person's mind who came up with ladder-skiing. I suspect that his wife made him paint the ceiling but he wanted to go skiing. So while painting he got bored and started thinking of ways to do both.

    The bored mind is the workshop of the Lord of Stupidity.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  37. Wow! by handy_vandal · · Score: 1

    Awesome! Engineering meets poetry in motion! Check out the videos -- a bit blurry, but incredible!

    --
    -kgj
  38. Perpetual Motion Machine by Boawk · · Score: 1

    The machine that breaks wind

  39. Mars Explorer? by Wiwi+Jumbo · · Score: 2

    I wonder if anything like this was looked at for low cost Mars explorers.... Drop a few at random places and just let them explore...

    Tho maybe that wouldn't be of any benefit anymore...

    --
    Wiwi
    "I trust in my abilities,
    but I want more then they offer"
  40. Vintage day. by chris_sawtell · · Score: 2

    New definition for "Tilting at windmills". Best laugh I've had for months.

  41. There's already enough trash on the beaches... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope he dosent plan on unleasing his herd anywhere in the US, unless he can make them pick up the trash that's already accumulating on the beaches.