Titanoboa - A Giant Robotic Snake (via Hack A Day)
A group of engineers raised money on Kickstarter to make a giant hydraulic snake, with the intention of making it 50 foot long:
60 million years ago in the sweltering heat of a climate 6 to 8 degrees warmer than today lived a monstrous snake called Titanoboa. It was only at these warmer temperatures which are at the upper end of climate change predictions that the cold blooded beast was able to reach these sizes. The Titanoboa project seeks to reincarnate this 50 foot, 1 ton beast as an amphibious, electromechanical serpent machine meant to provoke discussions of our changing climate in a historical context. This giant electromechanical reincarnation will roam the earth striking terror in the hearts of those who dare to look into its eyes and contemplate the future of our planet.
The Titanoboa project is an exercise in alternative forms of propulsion and power applications in transport. The purpose is to showcase this experiment by harnessing and enlarging the mesmerizing movement of the snake. The huge serpent has undeniable appeal as a surreal mechanical beast that moves in a seemingly magical way over land and will glide stealthily through the water. One or more participants will eventually interact with the piece by riding it or for the more ambitious, driving it. The complex control needed to properly move hundreds of individual parts will necessitate a skilled operator who has taken time to become at one with the serpent.
At the heart of the Human/Energy Photography Project is a series of portraits taken of complete strangers from around the world. These portraits will be taken within a dome-shaped, climate-controlled, photography studio at Burning Man 2009.
The producer (Leigh Christie), along with a professional photographer (Peter Holmes), will work with these participants to attempt to represent the complex relationships between humans and energy.
Light is always energy, however it’s intensity and spectrum can vary widely. How do humans interact with energy? And how can this relationship be expressed creatively through photography?
An example of a group shot by Peter Holmes.
While nothing is finalized, there will be a group shot after all the portraits are taken. This session will likely be very experimental in nature. Up to 13 people will take part. While portraits are being taken, the subjects will work with the producer + photographer to select their roll from the list below. (This roll is largely invented on the spot).
1) Aveo Intercido
2) Aeternus Infragilis
3) Invictus
4) Abiectio
5) Stellatus
6) Crystallus
7) Viridis
8) Persalsus
9) Libellus
10) Perutilis
11) Erato
12) Acies
13) Si Vos Natu
The Human Energy Photography Studio is a wood/cloth geodesic dome that features temperature, climate and dust control. It has been built to withstand high winds, dust storms and blistering exterior temperatures while maintaining a comfortable and clean environment.
- Main Entry: en·er·gy
- Pronunciation: \ˈe-nər-jē\
- Function: noun
- Inflected Form(s): plural en·er·gies
- Etymology: Late Latin energia, from Greek energeia activity, from energos active, from en in + ergon work — more at work
- Date: 1599
1 a : dynamic quality <narrative energy> b : the capacity of acting or being active <intellectual energy> c : a usually positive spiritual force <theenergy flowing through all people>
2 : vigorous exertion of power : effort <investing time and energy>
3 : a fundamental entity of nature that is transferred between parts of a system in the production of physical change within the system and usually regarded as the capacity for doing work
4 : usable power (as heat or electricity); also : the resources for producing such power
