Jesus Lizard >>> Robot
March 9th, 2005
Design Challenge: Build a robot in 5 days that can walk on water like the Basilisk aka ‘The Jesus Lizard”.
Video link via BBC Motion Gallery.
Brainstorm >> Prototype >> Iterate >> Solution:
Lin:
I think using a small CO2 cylinder (they kind they use in BB guns), I could drive a mini air motor (the sort of thing you see in a dentist’s office that they use to clean your teeth…or a car repair shop. They use it to take on and off the nuts that hold on your wheels or run a grinder. wizzzz wizzzz). This air motor could be mounted to a light weight chassis made to look like a lizard body and connected to some webbed feet made from light-weight flexible carbon fiber rods (think of super mini golf clubs in a bunch). These rods would have mylar sheets (the strong shiny stuff metallic helium balloons are made of) mounted in between to make a strong web.
From viewing the slowmotion video it appears that the lizard relies on its tail for stability, drag, and flotation. In my solution, I’d implement a similar setup where if I get going fast enough, I need to balance the lizard so that it doesn’t flip upside down.
What do you think…?
Post your solutions and comments…
Popularity: 9% [?]
March 10th, 2005 at 9:20 am
you’re suggesting some pretty heavy components, and possibly expensive ones – what about simply making it out of wood and some metal fittings and powering it with rubber bands? Remember those bird toys that flap their wings to fly? They used thin plastic sheeting and a molded plastic body. Maybe lighter would be easier… also, fab time would be lower, so development might be faster.
March 11th, 2005 at 1:45 pm
the best way i can see us mimicking the jesus lizard is having a flotation-type device (think hovercraft) in the middle for balance and support (like the tail) and then having rotating paddles on either side like the lizard’s legs. the paddles would have to go super-fast or displace tons of water.
March 11th, 2005 at 1:48 pm
another way might be to imitate more of a water spider, meaning, to suspend above the water by spreading surface area (i.e. so’s not to break water surface tension) to remain afloat and then have something to propel us (wind maybe?)
March 11th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
also: here’s a great site explaining how a hovercraft works.
March 11th, 2005 at 8:13 pm
- This is Jason, just ask Mike, he knows me!
I think that the best way to do this is to have a sort of floatation device like Jessica said, but to have 2 propellors under water like the two feet. This will help keep the noise level very soft. We would also be able to travel faster than usual without making too much extra noise. We could also use infared lighting to follow the lizard in the dark. Also you would need to be able to blend into the surroundings. So I suggest that we give it a heater to warm it up so it will act like an animal. Also the robot should have a tracking device so you wouldn’t lose track.
P.S. I’m sorry if i dragged on but hey, i’m just a simple 12 year old seventh grader. Also Mike say hi to Motor for me!
-Jason, Jess’s brother
March 14th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
- This is Dave, just ask Mike, he knows me!
One of the big names in biomechanics (besides Adam Summers—UC Irvine professor and contributor for Natural History magazine; see articles) is George Lauder (Harvard). Here’s one of his papers on basilisks, published in PNAS (pronounced “P-NAS”, shouted.)
paper 1
Here’s a paper on basilisk lizard size (esp. foot size) and water-running:
paper 2
and another paper in Nature about hydrodynamics whatever:
paper 3
If there are any accessibility issues, Email me so I can post the PDF or something. swedishfisherman@gmail.com
-Dave, Mike’s brother
July 21st, 2006 at 12:50 am
high chair replacement part…
A new usefull post made by …...
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:01 pm
The robot has been made here:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_jesus_lizard.shtml
November 12th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
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