Theo Jansen kinetic sculptor potential uses in agriculture??

[Ethos]

I don't know if there has been a topic posted about this before but bassically..

Theo Jensen is a kinetic sculptor who creates these creatures called Strandbeests

He designs these 'creatures' under the ideology that he is creating new life forms that he is constantly adapting and changing to be able to 'survive' on their own and act independently. The creatures are mainly built from pvc pipe and can harness wind power, sense terrain changes and change direction accordingly.

When I see these things crawling along the beach I cannot help but thing why is technology like this being utilised elsewhere, like in agriculture.

I think with a little inginuity and utilisation of current techniques we could be the leading country in sustainability. My idea is initially focused on circle irrigation (also called central pivot irrigation), I'm sure you have all seen this sort of thing before if not here is a field grown by the means of circle irrigation.

This style of farming uses a pivotal arm that irrigates crop space around a centre point.

Now with a bit of adaptation utilising Jensen's idea's we could rig these pivotal arms with wind powered 'strandbeest' type structures to eliminate the use of electricity to move these pivotal arms.

Using his sensor technology it could be possible to build powerless light tracking solar systems, which could in turn power irrigation pumps or be stored and used later.

Also another idea that sprung to mind was using the algorithm Jensen uses to make his creatures walk it could also be possible to make structures on these pivotal arms that can also plow the land without using electricity.

Ideally in the future I would like to see a 'strandbeest' that walks, prepares the land, sows the seeds, irrigates and possibly harvest.

Let me know what you guys think as I personally think its an awful waste not putting these engineering marvels to good use.

Regards,

Ethos

[∂an]

the strandbeests operate on the beach, which generally has prevailing winds due to the ocean and is very flat without obstacles. both of these qualities are probably required for the thing to work correctly. but its a neat idea and i'm sure if the worlds oil supply ran out tomorrow within a few months there would be numerous machines harnessing naturally available energy being used in agriculture... we are creatures of necessity, unfortunately, and always seek the path of least resistance.

Edited May 28, 2012 by kalika