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Strandbeest

strandbeest.com

41–50 of 114 posts

Re: Strandbeest

#41

For anyone who wants to know more: This is an application of Jansen's linkage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jansen%27s_linkage There are other similar linkages but Jansen's is quite good. For anyone who doesn't have an idea why something like this matters or is inspiring beyond art, legged vehicles have many downsides but one big upside is that you can theoretically avoid the rubber/microplastic particulate emission…

Wouldn't a legged vehicle still have that problem if it can achieve the same speeds and weights that regular cars go at? Scale up a human for example to the weight and speed of a car. Crazy powerful and big legs, big feet, big shoes. The rubber must hit the road either way and push down with a force to propel the weight of this car-heavy legged human at speeds of 100km/h. It would still wear rubber away just like tir…

> It would still wear rubber away just like tires do.

It’s been a hot minute since I learnt rolling friction in high school physics but (iirc) a very interesting and unintuitive aspect of it is that there’s always an opposing/slowing force on a (rubber) wheel. Only a slippping wheel will not experience a slowdown. Static friction is different from rolling friction, and (I think) can offer zero wear in ideal conditions - but rolling wear is always non-zero.

Re: Strandbeest

#44

I love simulation theory because it keeps me from going insane when I think of something randomly and it's on the front page of HN the next day (for the first time in 7 months). Anyway these would be cool if they could actually move humans. Imagine crossing a vast desert with some friends on one of these bad boys.

https://youtu.be/rqs9Awx5zgQ?si=Ojawx-oejvcRkopC, will probably not cross a dessert, but pretty cool.

Re: Strandbeest

#45
post #36

Now I am imagining a mars rover that works like one of these. Stampeding over the rocky landscape, powered by martian wind.

Given that Mars’ atmosphere density is only about one percent of Earth’s, that seems unlikely.

Re: Strandbeest

#46
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The metal itself would damage the ground that is walked on though no?

Yes, but walking on rough terrain would still keep it a rough terrain.

Rough terrain with less and less purchase, until it just turns into a pile of dry dust / wet mud (depending on weather). A legged vehicle as heavy as a car would wear away stone, tear roots… I don't think there's any surface that could withstand heavy traffic, except maybe something ridiculous like a fast-growing woody grass.

Re: Strandbeest

#47

I love simulation theory because it keeps me from going insane when I think of something randomly and it's on the front page of HN the next day (for the first time in 7 months). Anyway these would be cool if they could actually move humans. Imagine crossing a vast desert with some friends on one of these bad boys.

On the subject of coincidences, I went to order one of the Strandbeest mini sets from this very website last week.

Unfortunately their virtual store is closed for a couple weeks more. I was prepared to place an order and wait, but on the website checkout page there was a random person's name as if I was checking out someone else's order. It's probably an innocent mistake, like a hard coded default value or something.

I like to support artists directly, and it was a bit disappointing that there was so much friction with the buying process.

Re: Strandbeest

#48
post #43

The English translation of the (Dutch) "strandbeest" is "beach animal".

More like “beach beast”. “Animal” is “dier”.

The way I (L1-english) have thought usage went is: "beestje" (as in "Huisje, Boompje, Beestje") is informal for animal, but "dier" (as in PvdD*) is formal.

So I guess I'd offer "beach critter"?

* https://www.partyfortheanimals.com/en/organizations/partij-v...

Re: Strandbeest

#49

I love simulation theory because it keeps me from going insane when I think of something randomly and it's on the front page of HN the next day (for the first time in 7 months). Anyway these would be cool if they could actually move humans. Imagine crossing a vast desert with some friends on one of these bad boys.

On the subject of coincidences, I went to order one of the Strandbeest mini sets from this very website last week. Unfortunately their virtual store is closed for a couple weeks more. I was prepared to place an order and wait, but on the website checkout page there was a random person's name as if I was checking out someone else's order. It's probably an innocent mistake, like a hard coded default value or something.…

Did you not get the popup?

> During the months of July and August you cannot place orders in our webshop. ... Theo Jansen and his team wish you a nice summer.

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