Steve DeSpirito’s Winged Thingy

Steve DeSpirito:

while ago, I started making these little wire creations with moving parts just for fun. At the time, I had never heard the term “Automata” but have since realized it’s a well established art form. It might be hard to tell from the photo above, but when you crank the tail of the sculpture the wings flap

Automata [Art in High Places via DugNorth]

1. [meerkat]

   If you enjoy handcranked wire wonders & live in the Boston area, you really should take a trip over to the MIT museum (right off Mass Ave) and see their Arthur Ganson exhibit – he is really an incredible kinetic sculptor http://www.arthurganson.com/

   Here are some pics I took from a visit last weekend (they also have the WOW Pod!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/nate_marsh/sets/72157619671038393/

2. [rak0ribz]

   If you enjoy handcranked wire wonders, but would rather watch while an electric motor cranks them than expend the calories yourself, I recommend the AVAM in Baltimore. http://www.avam.org

3. [strider_mt2k]

   I really have to try my hand at some of that.

   Really very cool.

4. [airshowfan]

   Yes, but does it fly?

   No, seriously:

   http://www.ornithopter.org/projects.shtml

   http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/fv28/research.html

   http://www.proxdynamics.com/r_d/micro_helicopters_and_ornithopters/

   http://www.eng.unsw.edu.au/current/scholar/tr0405/results/dl/text.htm

   http://makezine.com/08/orly/

   http://www.symscape.com/node/501