Bird wing motion study created with nothing more than tongue depressors and paper

Check out this awesome kinetic model of bird wings. The model was created by design student Joyce Lin and is made of nothing more than tongue depressors, paper, and tape. Amazing!

Via Laughing Squid.

[ Thanks Cameron! ]

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Amazingly lifelike paper chameleon automaton powered by a small music box

Check out this very cleverly-constructed and lifelike chameleon automaton. The chameleon is about 8cm long and illuminated from within. After winding a key on the back, the creature comes to life, slowly shifting its weight on the branch and moving its eye around.

The automaton is cleverly-built in many respects. First, the paper figure is just amazing. Next, the entire thing is a reflection. This allows the actual model to be oriented horizontally, providing some design advantage. Also, the linkage that makes the eye move is magnetism!

The chameleon was made by papercraft artist Johan Scherft, who specializes in the design paper models of animals and mostly birds. Here is where you can see more artwork by Johan Scherft.

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Wood automaton depicts the waves from a droplet of water

Check out his wood automaton that depicts the splash after a water droplet hits a body of water.

From the video description:

The object of this project was to produce an Automata [sic] that was inspired by the work of Reuben Margolin. All components were hand made the aim was to recreate the reaction of droplet as it impacts a body of water.

The machine was made by Dean O'Callaghan. Here is where you can see more by work by Dean O'Callaghan.

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Chameleon papercraft kinetic sculpture by Rob Ives

The master of mechanical paper sculpture has done it again. Here is Rob Ives' latest project -- a shaking chameleon whose motion is powered by a swinging pendulum. It's an ingenious new application for a well-know mechanism. The chameleon project will be available for to purchase and download very soon.

See more paper sculpture and automata by Rob Ives on his web site.

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Tipu's Tiger and its built-in organ being played

Some time ago, I did a short post about Tipu's Tiger (AKA Tipoo's Tiger) on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The best I could do at the time was to link to a video on another site. Here is a demonstration of the automaton in which you get to hear the organ-based sounds meant to represent the tiger and its victim. Not quite as terrifying as one might imagine.

There is actually an organ built into the automaton itself which can be played. For a fascinating look inside of the piece and to see a Conservator play the organ, check out this video.

The tiger has a fascinating history. Here is an article about the Tipu's Tiger on Wikipedia and here another article on Tipu's Tiger from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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Monkey See, Monkey Do automaton

A few days ago, we saw a clever automaton using a free figure by Deane Benninghoven. If you dislike clowns that you will LOVE this next one!

Though the artist studied watchmaking, he deliberately tries to avoid mechanical repetition, preferring to use a simple mechanism to bring detailed figures to life. I would say he has succeeded.

Measuring 16.75 x 16 x 5 inches, the Monkey See, Monkey Do automaton is made of wood, polyurethane, polymer clay, epoxy, brass, silk, felt, steel wire, pigments, and pennies.

See more art by Deane Benninghoven on his web site.

[ Thanks Julia! ]

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Walking Spring - kinetic sculpture by Casey Curran

Take look at this incredibly unique kinetic sculpture called Walking Spring, the latest creation of artist Casey Curran.

See more sculpture by Casey Curran at http://www.caseycurran.com/.

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