2010-04-28

Gilberto Esparza Nomadic Plants

Robot Nomadic Plant Feeds Off Polluted Water - GreenPacks

It appears plants are turning into cyborgs, well, they do seem to have picked up a thing about movement. The work of Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza, these Nomadic Plants or Planta Nomada has robotic legs to help it move.




This plant-machine hybrid gets energy from a microbial fuel cell. Microbes at work to generate electricity for the robo legs to remain in action do need some nourishment, so when the need arises, the plant simply seeks out water from the polluted Lerma Santiago River in Mexico.
collected from this page with Yooper.


Nomadic Plants - we make money not art

Vegetation and microorganisms live in symbiosis inside the body of the Nomadic Plants robot. Whenever its bacteria require nourishment, the self-sufficient robot will move towards a contaminated river and 'drink' water from it. Through a process of microbial fuel cell, the elements contained in the water are decomposed and turned into energy that can feed the brain circuits of the robot. The surplus is then used to create life, enabling plants to complete their own life cycle. As Eduardo wrote in our email conversation, "The nomadic plant is a portray of our own species. It also deals with the alienated transformation of this new hybrid species that fights for its survival in a deteriorated environment."

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Photo Gilberto Esparza

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Nomadic cyborg plants suck up our filthy water to live | DVICE


Espaza's goal is not to actually solve our pollution issues, but more to demonstrate that solving the world's problems can involve thinking outside the box, something he's clearly pretty good at.

The Nomadic Plants are being exhibited at the Laboral Art and Industrial Creation Center in Gijon, Spain, through June 7th.
collected from this page with Yooper.

Sources:
  1. Robot Nomadic Plant Feeds Off Polluted Water - GreenPacks
  2. Nomadic Plants - we make money not art
  3. Nomadic cyborg plants suck up our filthy water to live | DVICE
Related:
  1. plantas nĂ³madas
  2. http://www.laboralcentrodearte.org/exhibitions/show/122
  3. Hybrid Robot's Microbial Fuel Cell Transforms Polluted Water Into Vegetation : TreeHugger
  4. Nomadic Plants by Gilberto Esparza | ICON MAGAZINE ONLINE
  5. Nomadic Plants - The Cyborg Plant of Gilberto Espaza | Oddity Central - Collecting Oddities
  6. Gilberto Espaza's Nomadic Plant Robots Live Off The Polluted Water - Gizmo Watch