"Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move -- and even survive -- on their own"

Check this out
http://www.ted.com/talks/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html
Impressive
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Thats an impressive meccano set !

I dont know about survive on their own though.. If hes using PVC Pipe/Conduit, then any moving joints/bearing are going to wear out PDQ.. If he has metal bearings in there, then they're not likely to survive in a beach environment. Perhaps teflon or something like that might help.

I'm skeptical about there being enough energy in the wind to enable much in the way of energetic movement too.. perhaps if they sat there flapping in the wind for 1/2hr, they might store up enough compressed air to move a few steps.. but it would be like watching grass grow.

So, a new form of Life ? Not really.. no reproduction, no self repair, no learning.

Nonetheless a nice example of wind-powered madness-inspired intricate-machinery ! I bet he was in love with Meccano as a kid !
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