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  Show and Tell: Mini Rhinoceros Strandbeest

  Posted by Shig, medical engineering - February 08, 2012

  At Speck Design we revel in the process of transforming a concept into a physical product that makes its way into the marketplace.  We also appreciate the design features of products we use on a daily basis.  As part of our weekly show-and-tell blog series, we talk about some of our favorite everyday products, sharing insight into likeable features, how the product stands out compared to similar products, and which improvements could be made to the product from a design, engineering, and user experience stand point.

  I was really excited when my 77-year-old father-in-law in Japan sent my kids a Mini Rhinoceros Strandbeest for Christmas.  Although these wind-powered models are for adults, they have served a great purpose for entertaining my children.  This model was produced by a Japanese magazine called “Science for Adults,” which is based on an old monthly science magazine for kids and is now targeted at adults.

  PRODUCT: Mini Walking Wind-Powered Rhinoceros Strandbeest

  DESCRIPTION: In 1990, kinetic sculpture artist Theo Jansen introduced a new species bred from recycled plastic tubes. These species are called Strandbeests, meaning “beach animals” in Dutch which are animals that can walk through the power of wind.  Batwing-like sails and plastic tubes make up the skeletal structure of these animals.  The number of tubes and length of each tube dictate how the animal will move and interact with its environment. Since these creatures are made of tubular plastic pieces, they are able to store air pressure. The legs of these animals vary in design - they can have a few legs with a wide foundation or many legs, which give the illusion of skating across the sand.  My Mini Rhinoceros Strandbeest is a scale reproduction of one of Theo Jansen’s sculptures that is designed as a snap-assembly plastic model.

  LIKEABLE FEATURES: This easy-to-use model kit comes with 80 or so plastic pieces that snap together and form a wind-powered walking animal that mimics a walking rhinoceros.  The model parts are well-made and precise, making assembly very easy.  The instructions are clear and easy to follow, although they were a bit difficult for my 10-year old to understand on his own.  From a design aspect, I really appreciate the fact that the 12 legs of the rhino are formed by a combination of subassemblies that are connected and work together in such a way to produce a fluid, sequential motion that is very fun to watch.  The wind turbine is also very well designed, consisting of a V-blade that can capture wind from different directions that turns the rotor in a single direction. It’s a very simple, elegant design.

  DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS: This model is a great design where everything fits together perfectly, and the resulting product works really well.  I wouldn’t make any changes except for maybe adding some color to the creature.

  *Side note: Theo Jansen and his creatures have already received over four million hits on YouTube.  Check out one of the videos of these life-like creatures strolling along the beach.