 |
La Princesse Mechanical Spider
La Princesse is a giant mechanical spider currently having its way with Liverpool in England. It is fifty feet high and can walk over crowds and, with the help of a crane, can scale buildings.
(La Princesse mechanical spider in Liverpool)
At 7.36pm, a giant yellow leg appeared from behind a building at the end of Salthouse Dock and a crowd who had been growing increasingly restive after standing for 90 minutes in the pouring rain screamed and shouted...There were more squeals: some of apprehension, others of sheer joy. The spider, named La Princesse, is the brainchild of François Delarozière and his company La Machine, who over the past 15 years have engineered a host of mechanical animals including the glorious Sultan's Elephant that made London smile in 2006.
La Princesse is a big girl, weighing 37 tonnes, and a marvel of engineering. She has 50 hydraulic axes of movement, took a year to build, and trundles along the road at two miles an hour.
I wouldn't call this a prediction, but it did remind me of the Tachikoma spiders from Ghost in the Shell; below we see Tachikoma's poised to jump from the side of a building, after climbing most of the way to the top.
(Tachikoma robot spider tank)
Source: Liverpool spider 37 tonnes and a marvel of engineering.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 9/7/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
No mere rude mechanicals, AirRobots played airy fairies in this performance of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream'.
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
This program really makes controlling robots a breeze. Just let your fingers make your robot do the walking.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Take a look at these four robots performing a variety of martial arts moves.
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Pretty cool DIY robotic device reprises a classic song from the 1950's, the same ere during which the theremin dominated sf movie soundtracks.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
At least they were not the 'rude mechanicals'.
Paralysis Ray Uses Photocontrolled Molecular Switch
Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Brine Wells May Swallow Towns
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the Quadraturin essence in 1 cup of water.
Will In-Vitro Meat Change Our Lives?
ChickieNobs, anyone?
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Foils Carjacker
Better than a car chase.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Robo-Shiko!
Interactive TV Patent From Sony
Can you dance faster than the White Clown?
Smart Contact Lens With Power Harvesting Circuits
Smart contacts with VR connections.
'Significant Amount' Of Lunar Water Found
Droogs! There's water ice on the moon!
FOXP2 Tweak Yields Planet Of The Apes?
Get your filthy words off me, you damn dirty ape!
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Patsy Cline classic played by robot.
XT-1 Micro Mouse With Blazing Speed
These are fully autonomouse robots.
Escape Pods, Refuge Of ISS Astronauts From Space Junk
Who first thought about escape pods?
Steerable Bowling Ball Is A Cheesy Spherical Robot
Once the province of geeks, now in bowling alleys.
Bio-Mechanics And Micro-Robotic Flight
Micro air vehicles and insect flight.
