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Karakuri: Ancient. Japanese. Robots.
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When it comes to innovative works of technology, robotics especially, we can always count on Japan to wow us. Their oldest sensation is known as Karakuri – a simple technology that allows them to create beautiful works of motion.
Karakuri is an ancient practice of Japanese robotics that emerged during the Edo period some 200-300 years ago. Skilled craftsman of that time patterned the basis of Western clockwork technology (creating motion using minimal energy) to create life-like moving models called automata or self-operating machines.
The story also goes that shop owners would create these automata to display in their shop windows. People passing by would be astonished and intrigued by the moving figures, then wanting to come into the shop – sort of like a modern day window display, advertisement or better yet, a moving billboard.
One of the Karakuri robotics is the ‘Step Karakuri,’ built to perform acrobatics in a frontward or backward manner. However, the technology and precision needed to balance weight is very difficult to achieve: if the weight is even a fraction too light then the model will not go down and if it is too heavy then it will go down too fast and fall over.
Today, traces of this ancient art form are found in such robotics technologies as those produced by major Japanese companies such as Toyota. However, as impressive as it may be the truth is that this ancient art is quickly dying out and very few skilled craftsmen remain. The only way to keep this part of their history and tradition alive is by passing the knowledge down to their children.
Written by Deft Magazine Staff Writer Esther Sully.
Spotted on Make.
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