And now for something completely different

HELLO all. I have recently been made aware of a fantastic artist/engineer named Theo Jansen. Cousin April shared a Youtube clip with me and I'll share it with you. He is part of a relatively small class of artists that refer to themselves as "kinetic sculpters". Just watching his creations walk around is a treat. After looking at them in more depth on his website or in interviews and such, it occurs to me that it wouldn't be too difficult to build something similar to one of these beasts (the walking leg mechanism is so brilliantly simple) and actually ride in it using pedal power. My work at UVA on lightweight materials makes me think of how this person powered moving truss structure would not even have to weigh more than say 200lbs and certainly could be made to weigh less. (CFRP tubes filled with polymer foam are amazingly stiff and fairly strong and weigh so very little. But they cost $$$) If you are an engineer type come be inspired, if you are not, be amazed.