Crabfu's rodent-powered Jansen walker

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By Gareth Branwyn
Posted 2011/02/06 @ 10:13 am
Category Robotics, Tools

A couple of weeks ago, we posted about our pal I-Wei (Crabfu) being featured in the latest Gakken magazine/kit dedicated to kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest walker. I-Wei built the mini walker kit and was pretty pleased with it. But his maker heart remained restless. He could make it better, faster, stronger… rodent-powered?

And so, after some modifications involving a hamster ball, mounting brackets, and a Meccano sprocket and chain, the tightly-wound hamster, Princess, was borrowed from a friend and press-ganged into service. The result is the ominous Jansen Hamster Walker. Go Princess, go!

Next step: weaponizing the platform. I kid, I KID. Princess the rodent-walker hybrid is a lover, not a fighter. For now.

Hamster Powered Walker

In the Maker Shed

6 Responses to Crabfu's rodent-powered Jansen walker

Anonymous on February 6th, 2011 at 7:55 pm said:

Hm…Very cool. Why is it everyones posts start out the same: “Crabfu’s rodent-powered Jansen walker: A couple of weeks ago, we posted about our pal” It would appear that I-Wei has a huge flock….

Really cool power source !! Now if I can harness that for my car…I can be free from gas….wait maybe not.

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Anonymous on February 6th, 2011 at 7:56 pm said:

Hm…Very cool. Why is it everyones posts start out the same: “Crabfu’s rodent-powered Jansen walker: A couple of weeks ago, we posted about our pal” It would appear that I-Wei has a huge flock….

Really cool power source !! Now if I can harness that for my car…I can be free from gas….wait maybe not.

Reply ↓
Anonymous on February 6th, 2011 at 7:56 pm said:

Hm…Very cool. Why is it everyones posts start out the same: “Crabfu’s rodent-powered Jansen walker: A couple of weeks ago, we posted about our pal” It would appear that I-Wei has a huge flock….

Really cool power source !! Now if I can harness that for my car…I can be free from gas….wait maybe not.

Reply ↓
Ava Readdy on February 7th, 2011 at 4:45 pm said:

What genius. You are onto something huge here for rodent lovers worldwide. We have a Prairie Dog who spends hours roaming the house in her ‘ball’ and would be absolutely drunk with happiness and new found power if she had a vehicle like this. She’s a pound and would need a bigger ball though. Could it be done? I’d gladly pay you to build one for her. Up for a challenge?
dataqwik@olypen.com

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adamvan2000 on November 24th, 2012 at 1:55 pm said:

All Hail our hamster Overlords! Now we will usher in an era of Hamster Balls and Terror!

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