The steampunk aesthetic can take on many forms, and while pipes, valves, and boilers can look great, having complicated machinery with lots of moving parts really makes your project shine. A team of steampunk enthusiasts over at Tampere Hacklab did this by building a vehicle named Maakrapu. It’s a two-wheeled buggy that looks like it’s being pulled forward by some kind of five-legged creature. The extremely smooth motion of its legs conjures up images of lobsters or crabs (“Maakrapu” means “land crab” in Finnish), and is also reminiscent of Theo Jansen’s Strandbeesten.
The wooden legs are linked together with a metal crankshaft, which was welded together from plasma-cut parts. A steering wheel is included to orient the legs in the direction of travel, although the actual steering of the vehicle is done through differential braking. An earlier version had no propulsion and was meant for downhill riding only, but this latest model comes with an electric motor and a battery, making it actually somewhat useful as an urban runabout.
The video embedded below shows the design of the Maakrapu as well as a long drive from the center of Tampere back to the Hacklab. If you like vehicles with lots of little moving legs like this, check out the Strandbeest Bicycle. For a more literal “steam”-punk experience, try this steam-powered bike.
Eh, I’m kind of sick of seeing strandbeests all the time. Nice to see a local guy here though.
One of the builders here: So were we, that’s exactly why it’s not a strandbeest. What makes strandbeest a strandbeest is that they use Theo Jansen’s own linkage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jansen%27s_linkage , while this uses a different one altogether; something called a Klann linkage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klann_linkage
Sorry, got a little triggered there.
Amazing job! Just needs a freaky head over the legs to complete the illusion of being pulled around by a freaky mutant space crab.
Seeing strandbeests all the time? What planet are you from? I’ve never seen anything like this before. Pretty kreepy crawly.
What is wrong with you, that thing is great fun, and not a Strandbeast, its reminiscent of one perhaps, but by that argument I’m sick of all these wheeled things, they are all the same, its so boring….
Seems like this needs a few upgrades before it could be considered particularly practical, but it is very definitely cool, and inspiring.
Indeed, it still has 2 wheels left. They should be swapped out for feet.
This is great. Way better than scooters.
It is different from Strandbeest, it uses Klann linkage.
Torille! Hyvä Arno, Antti ja Petri!
So the thing is really driven by the wheels. The legs don’t pull it along.
Yeah, the legs are too delicate to do that and since there’s only one on the ground at any given time, they wouldn’t get very much traction anyway.
True, as the author writes on his project page “Motive force comes from the electric motor connected to the wheels.”
Unfortunately
> “Maakrapu” means “land crab” in Finnish
It is indeed a compound word based on the Finnish words for “land” and “crab”, but “maakrapu” would translate to “landlubber”. A witty and appropriate name for the project :)
Beautiful motion, fascinating to watch. Well done!
Anybody else remember “Kidnapper” the similar vehicle from Stephenson’s “The Diamond Age”?
That might be just the thing to get past all these potholes!
Rube Goldberg would be proud.
I was thinking ‘Ohmu’ (from Nausicaa) https://www.japantrendshop.com/nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind-pullback-toy-ohmu-king-bug-p-3205.html#
Hopefully if he hits someone they have Lerner and Rowe in Europe. In a wreck, get a check.
Now make this with steel legs that come to a bone piercing point, with holes in them for gass flames to flow out, and make the linkage strong enough to provide the motive force itself. Flaming steel crab death carriage from hell, klvt 🤘
I get that Straandbeest is similar- but that this uses Klaan linkages. I am not sad that there are more legged walking contraptions like this, I never tire of them.