Spring–Mass Creatures

Machines constructed from spring-mass systems

Dainty Walker

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The "Dainty Walker" was the default model on the front page of sodaplay.com. The model consists of a rigid body with two pairs of legs, each consisting of two tendons.

 

Tread

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The Tread model employs a different strategy for motion. Rather than arranging pairs of legs wih alternating motion, Tread-type models drive cyclic motion through mainy evenly spaced muscles; the exact number is arbitrary.

 

Eyeglasses

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This model drives two wheels that are connected through a triangular spine.

 

Umbrella Walker

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The Umbrella Walker is modeled after the armature of a collapsible umbrella. The number of legs can be generalized.

 

Leggy

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Leggy employs mainy pairs of legs to maintain its balance and continuous motion. Similar to Tread, the precise number of legs is not crucial to the mobility of the creature.

 

Tumbler

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Tumbler relies on friction with the ground and repetetive momentum to produce a slow rolling motion. The motion was inspired by the phenomenon of spinning ones's arms while sitting in a freely rotating office chair to induce spin.

 

Snake

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The snake consists of a long cross-braced frame whose opposing sides are modulated to produce undulating waves.