Wooden robot figure with changing facial expressions

Here's another creation by the extremely clever artist Osamu Kanda. The piece is titled Face. The body of the robot-like figure has a cube inside on which a small face is depicted.

When button on the front of the machine is pushed, a hidden motor causes the the robot to spin on its pedestal. Upon making a full revolution, we find that the face on the cube has changed expression! The figure has three different expressions in all. If you watch all the way to the end of the video, you'll get a small hint as to how this magic is accomplished.

See more pictures of Osamu Kanda's piece Face on his web site.

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Mechanical figure strikes a bell with both hands

Another mechanical delight from the mind of Osamu Kanda. This mechanical figure strikes the small bell with either hand when a string is pulled. I'm not sure if this is the final piece or a stage of something in progress. Either way, it's a very clever use of a single string to cause the figure to turn at the waist and extend both arm and elbow. That's a lot of motion for the pull of a single string!

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String-operated Japanese karakuri figure

Here is an interesting form of karakuri doll posted to YouTube by artist Osamu Kanda and attributed to GOTO. This figure differs from the spring-driven variety of karakuri in that it is powered by the viewer. A system of strings allows the user to manipulate the doll something like a stationary marionette.

Here is the web page with pictures and additional information (some English, mostly Japanese) about this string-operated karakuri figure.

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Stair-stepping karakuri automaton

You may have seen the recent post about Osamu Kanda's stair-climbing automaton. Here is a more sophisticated -- and I assume ancient -- version. This figure not only climbs a set of stairs, but turns a corner mid-way too!

To learn more about Japanese karakuri (the paper kind) check out Karakuri: How to Make Mechanical Paper Models That Move.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Ingenious wooden bipedal walker automaton

Check out this clever bipedal walker created by Osamu Kanda. The walker is a completely free object. The steps lock the front foot in and then power the walker forward. It's a very unconventional, but effective means for creating a bipedal motion.

See more inventive wooden machines by Osamu Kanda on his web site.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Wood and ball bearing version of classic karakuri

Check out Osamu Kanda's modern update to the classic tumbling karakuri figure. He has made the figure out of wood and loaded it with ball bearings to serve as the shifting internal weight.

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Push-powered wooden musical automaton

I don't exactly have the words for this incredible creation since I've never seen anything quite like it. It's a wooden cart that -- when pushed -- plays a tune, a drum, and animates a human figure on the front. Another wonder from the mind of Osamu Kanda!

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Ingenious marble manipulating machine

From the clever mind of Osamu Kanda: take a look at this hand cranked marble-moving machine. It looks as though the blocks on top can be reconfigured to cause the marbles to follow different paths.

See more of Osamu Kanda's kinetic creations on his web site.

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Motorized wooden crawler by Osamu Kanda

Another video of a nifty wooden creation from Osamu Kanda -- this one called, appropriately, Crawl. I love the creative use of a film feed mechanism. Add motor, wooden gears, wheels, and front legs and there is something compelling about the way it pulls itself along.

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Hand-cranked pencil writing automaton

Automata that write or draw have a distinguished history. Here's a modern version by the prolific Osamu Kanda for your consideration.

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Hand-cranked bell ringing cat automaton

Another great piece by Osamu Kanda, or Okan.

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The utimate rubber-band firing wooden robot

Osamu Kanda has created many interesting automata, but this creation is something else entirely! He's made a ride-on, wooden robot with remote controlled-arms with working fingers and a chest that opens up to reveal a series of Gatling-style rubber-band guns. You wouldn't want to get into a rubber-band war with this man!

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Osamu Kanda automaton of figures moving frame

Here's a wonderful video of an automaton by Osamu Kanda depicting two figures sliding a frame back and forth. It's a nice example of figures being moved by the part they seem to be moving.

See more work by Osamu Kanda on his web site.

[ Thanks Falk! ]

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