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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.

38 of 75 comments (clear)

  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. Beautiful by kliment · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I kinda like these. Geek art at its best

  3. 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.
  4. 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 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?!
  5. 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 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.
  6. 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.

  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

  11. 23MB QuickTime Movie of one of them.... by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 4, Informative


    Enjoy.

    Animaris Sabulosa

    Cheers,

    --
    Bowie J. Poag

  12. 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 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?

  13. 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.

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

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

    *duck*

    --
    Dyslectics of the world, untie!
  15. 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.

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

    More work and video by theo janssen

    http://www.strandbeest.com/

    Strandbeest means "beach animal"

  17. 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...
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.

  21. 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?

  22. 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)

  23. 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.

  24. '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 ]
  25. What happens by The+Kow · · Score: 2, Funny

    when they get blown over in heavy winds?

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    Moo
  26. We've had these for years! by DJerman · · Score: 2

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

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

    these?

  28. 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

  29. 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"
  30. Vintage day. by chris_sawtell · · Score: 2

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