Strandbeests, created by Theo Jansen, are one of the most stunning innovations of our century. These machines could move flawlessly through a seemingly invisible force to the naked eye. According to Jansen, these lifeless creatures are skeletons that walk through the wind and do not require any sustenance for energy.
Strandbeests and Rising Sea Levels
Plaudens vela mean flapping sails. To still be able to walk with the weak wind, the animal had many sails to walk. The surface of the sails was comparable to that of a large cabin yacht.
Theo Jansen created these machines back in the early 1990s. The project, however, is not just a simple invention demonstrating engineering principles' power. The massive skeleton creatures were assembled in response to the uncontrollable rise of sea levels due to global climate change.
Jansen said that the Strandbeests were solely made to assist regions, especially those in low countries, to carry, build, and repair materials for sand barriers. These protective structures are believed as one of the most promising solutions to keep the water levels from infiltrating the landmasses that have low altitudes.
Most of the coastal regions that Strandbeests are slated to help are located in Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, and other northwestern countries in Europe.
Jansen explained that the first Strandbeest they created in 1990 could only move its legs while lying on its back. This initial system was improved and revised throughout the following years. Eventually, the expert's team found a better approach to construct the tube-based system, assembling it from Sellotapes to heat, Jansen added.
How Strandbeests Move
The Strandbeests have skeletal structures that are based on wood or PVC materials. These sculptures could move by harnessing the natural power given by wind. The mechanisms of these animals are built with polymer sails that catch the wind and allow their entire bodies to walk or even fly, Interesting Engineering reports.
With the principles of propulsion systems and lightweight framing techniques, the enormous machines could easily walk through the uneven plains of sand beaches without any other external help, such as human control.
In new Strandbeest models, sensors were equipped for a more accurate movement and to estimate terrains for the quality of their movements across hard and soft sands. Small recycled bottles were also added to keep some of the wind the machines harnessed for later use in case the flow of wind stops.
The Strandbeests are being promoted worldwide due to the functions they offer. In 2014, the team exhibited the skeletal creatures in technological hotspots of the globe, including the United States, Japan, France, and Russia.
In a report by BBC, Jansen explained he wants the machines to be completely independent of him and carry out tasks based on their own decisions within the next 20 years. Technologies for the improvement of their trips on beaches will be added, allowing the beasts to keep their activities and themselves safe from harsh weather and the rise of waters.
Today, the legacy of Strandbeests continues to improve. The systems are now better at moving forward, and some animals can also fly at high altitudes. The self-sufficient design is kept, and there are even miniatures that engineering enthusiasts could obtain.
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