Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza has created a series of robot sculptures he calls Robotic Urban Parasites. The robots are created entirely from recycled materials; one of his creations takes power from electrical wires and reacts to light sources as well as noises and cell phone signals. It was inspired by Mexico City street vendors who parasitize power from nearby electric power poles to juice their roadside stalls.
Another creation is the Solar Nomad Plant. This is a plant carried in a mobile cart toward available sunlight. The robotic cart apparently feeds off the energy created by decaying bacteria in the polluted water that in turn nourishes the plant.
Take a look at the Robotic Urban Parasites video below.
(Robotic Urban Parasites video by Gilberto Esparza)
Esparza's works was shown at the Contemporary Art Museum of the Autonomous National University of Mexico.
Curator, Alejandra Lavastida says she admires the Urban Parasite series because it has different levels of meaning.
"The urban parasites are about the technology invasion. says Esparza, "I made them thinking about all these technology devices that seem to be programmed to last only for a certain time."
Esparza's work has been shown in several countries including Brazil, Peru, Canada, Mexico, and Bolivia.
The Solar Nomad Plant robotic cart reminds me of the skrodes, special carts created for an otherwise immobile race in Vernor Vinge's 1992 novel A Fire Upon the Deep.
Mika The Robot-Boss
'the robot-boss was busy at the lip of the new lode instructing and egging the men on to greater speed...' - David C. Cooke, 1939.
Sensitive, Soft Robot Skin
'...tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.' - Harl Vincent, 1934.
Finger Sensors For Robot Hands
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
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