Theo Jansen's 3D Printed Strandbeests | Hacker News Reader

Theo Jansen's 3D Printed Strandbeests

shapeways.com

59 pointsmhb10 comments

In the video on the linked site, I think he draws too strong of an analogy to life. While you can think of the 1's and 0's that make up the code for the 3D printer file as a genetic code, the key difference is that every living thing carries its own genetic code within itself. If he can get the files to be quine-like,* then I'll be even more impressed than I am already.

That said, any possibility of getting the files so we can print our own?

* I see no reason this should be impossible or even exceptionally difficult for people used to doing such things.

Have you read Bruce Sterling's "Shaping Things" book that talks about this concept of a design within the object - so maybe that could be called a physical Quine? I like it!

Jansens's talk of genetic code is just an artsy guy gushing, which I don't mean to detract from his marvelous accomplishment, but it does plant the seed of an idea. In principle you could integrate cad/cam, a physics simulator, genetic algorithms, and a 3D printer...

I think he's making a valid point. Strandbeests are parasites which reproduce through their host organisms (human society). Its "genetic code" (the design) is not located within its phyisical structure, but it does exist, and its duplication method is carried out by another entity (people with computers); akin to a virus. "Toy" dogs are similar; I doubt any could survive or find mates on their own; they are alive because they have found a way to use humans to enable their existence (that is, by being cute). Far from "an artsy guy gushing", he draws a compelling analogy.

I'm not sure why this has to be a requirement. Retroviruses require host cells (a natural 3d printer you could think of it) to do their multiplying. If the macroscopic picture is functionally equivalent: some form of order spreading, then why not consider it life?

Viruses are generally not considered to be alive, so they're not an especially good example. On the other hand, if you print the code used to generate these creatures on them (or give them some way to communicate it), and build a scanner so that a 3d printer can take the design from them, they could be considered to be alive (and male) as far as reproduction is concerned.

To my fellow Dutchmen, or anyone else who wants to see a new strandbeest in action:

http://www.strandbeest.com/events.php

Try Out Animaris Gubernare May 26 to 29 2011 Strandpaviljoen De Fuut silent beach south of the harbor of The Hague (Den Haag) 250 m left of strandslag 10

http://www.defuut.nl/routebeschrijving.htm

May 26 from 4pm -7pm May 27 from 4pm -7pm May 28 from 7pm -9pm May 29 from 7pm -9pm

Try out of the new beast Animaris Gubernare (steerable strandbeest) Only when the wind is not stronger than 6 on the scale of Beaufort (cancelation will be announced on this website)

Theo Jansen also did a TED talk[0] that featured some of his kinetic sculptures.

More videos of his sculptures are available on his site[1]. I find them entrancing.

[0] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b694exl_oZo [1] http://www.strandbeest.com/film_videos.php

Amazing. I was hoping you could print your own, it looks like he is just selling them already printed from Shapeways:

http://www.shapeways.com/shops/theojansen

Very cool!

I was inspired to name some of my more fun Insectoid level designs after Strandbeests.

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