Theo Jansen的海灘仿生機器人來到美國
Theo Jansen's Whimsical Strandbeests Come To America
Theo Jansen的海灘仿生機器人來到美國Some sculptors like to create clay masterpieces; others prefer metal. Then there is Theo Jansen. This Dutch artist uses PVC tubes to build giant Strandbeests (beach animals in Dutch). Part work of art, part fantastical creature, the multi-legged insect-like creations are both awe-inspiring and terrifying!
一些雕塑家喜歡用黏土創造作品，另一些則喜歡用金屬。但是Theo Jansen卻與衆不同。這位來自荷蘭的藝術家用PVC管子建造了仿生機器人（也被稱爲荷蘭海灘生物）。這些多腳似昆蟲的傢伙一半像工藝品，一半又像生物，既令人驚歎又可怕。
Built using PVC plastic tubes, drinking containers, and recycled materials, the sculptures are fitted with a crank-based leg system that move in sync thanks to a proprietary 'genetic algorithm' created by the artist. To ensure the beach animals don't get stuck in the sand, that artist added 'sweat glands,' that help distribute water by applying pressure through its feet and legs. The sails help capture the wind that powers the Strandbeest's motion. Recycled plastic bottles serve as 'batteries' that store energy reserves (air).
這些雕塑主要材料由PVC管子、飲料瓶和其他可回收材料製成，彎曲的腿部系統依靠Jansen發明的基因算法專利可以同步移動。爲了保證它們不會陷進沙灘裏無法移動，Jansen還給它們加上了通過給腿腳施加壓力把水散開的“汗腺“，而頂部加的帆則可以收集風力來使它們移動。
The always evolving creatures even 'reproduce' thanks to the millions of fans that create their own versions using kits or the specifications published by Jansen on his website. In addition to increasing their numbers, this also results in innovating new designs.
這些不斷進化的生物還產生了“後代”——成千上萬的粉絲使用其他材料，通過Jansen在他網頁上發佈的具體做法制造出屬於自己的不同版本。這不僅增加了它們的數量，還激發了其他改造創新。Jansen hopes that with these joint efforts, the beests will evolve to the point that they don't need any human to survive. "My hope is that before I leave the planet, I leave a new specimen to the world," he says. While this attitude towards an inanimate object might seem a bit sentimental, those that have interacted with the Strandbeests agree that there is something magical about this strange PVC-based life form.
Jasen希望大家一起努力，可以讓這種生物不需要人爲幫助就能進化。他表示：“我的願望是在我離世之前，可以留給世界一種新的生物”。他對於這種無生命的物體的看法似乎有些感傷，但是那些希望能與它們交流的人也認爲這種用PVC材料製作的生物是有種魔力在的。Whether the artist ever fulfills his dream remains to be seen. Meanwhile, his unusual art has garnered enough fans to spur him to take his Strandbeests around the world. Their first major U.S. tour began in late August at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
Jansen是否能實現他的願望還未知。但他非凡的藝術品擁有的粉絲，正鼓勵他把這種風能怪物機器人帶向世界。八月底在馬薩諸塞州塞勒姆的皮博迪艾塞克斯博物館已經進行了美國首展。譯文屬原創，僅供學習和交流使用，未經許可，請勿轉載。
