Tag: Automaton

Because one can never have too much whimsy, Taiwanese carpenter and automata maker Chi-Chun Yin constructed the ‘Ark III’, a wooden submarine automata crewed by a bunch of different animals. With a turn of a crank (cleverly doubling as the sub’s propeller), the entire crew is brought to life.

We all pay our respects in our own way, and LEGO builder and YouTuber Douglas Hughes decided to construct this kinetic Jeopardy! sculpture in honor of the late, great Alex Trebek. Featuring contestants Ken Jennings (most wins), Brad Rutter (most money won), and James Holzhauer (most records), the figures move and buzz in, complete with light effects.

This awesome LEGO robot was inspired by 18th Century Swiss watch and automata creators Pierre Jacquet-Droz and Henri Maillardet. It is a LEGO automaton that draws sketches on paper and comes from the mind of Italian robot maker Daniele Benedettelli.

I’m always mesmerized by the intricate craftsmanship found in antique automatons. I think it’s something about the fact that people could build robotics without any electrical or electronic components that is truly amazing. One of the more incredible automatons to pop onto my radar screen of late is this mechanical caterpillar that dates back to 1820.

Do you have mood swings? Then you owe it to the next person about to cross the threshold into your cubicle to make sure they know if you’re happy, sad, or going to chew their head off for taking to you.

I’m always impressed by the handiwork of artists who can make automatons, given the fact they require not only creativity, but mechanical engineering skills as well. Take, for example, this automaton which looks like a human hand.

Can you imagine why a robot would need to yodel? I’ve got no idea because yodeling is fricking annoying in my book. Radio Man was featured in the April 1939 issue of Popular Science, and was the Slim Whitman of early android technology.

These fun wind-up desktop critters from Kikkerland are the perfect addition to any cubicle toy collection. Designer Chico Bicalho’s MxyKikker crawler is my personal favorite, what with its dozen or so spinny elbow macaroni looking legs which help it move along your floor.

This amazing clock may have been constructed almost 400 years ago, but it’s just as bone-chilling as it was back then. To tell the time, just crack open his skull cap, and the clock is where his brains should be.