Survival Research Labs: Machines with whimsical madness

Aug. 6, 2011
It's hard to beat Survival Research Labs when it comes to leveraging leading-edge technology and robotics into true spectacles of confusion and destruction. For example, did you know they were the first ones to have an animal-controlled robot in a live ...

It's hard to beat Survival Research Labs when it comes to leveraging leading-edge technology and robotics into true spectacles of confusion and destruction. For example, did you know they were the first ones to have an animal-controlled robot in a live performance? It's true. Back in the 1980s, they had a guinea pig in a wired-up harness on a six-legged robot and the guinea pig's movements controlled the robot's movements.

You can spend a lot of time wandering their website, checking out machines like the Mumbly Peg Stabber and the Flame Whistle. (You can also run into a few dead links, but that's one of the hallmarks of older websites.) This one is still updated and you can get DVDs of previous SRL shows with semi-pompous names like "Virtues of Negative Fascination" and "A Calculated Forecast of Ultimate Doom: Sickening Episodes of Widespread Devastation Accompanied by Sensations of Pleasurable Excitement."

But these folks don't take themselves too seriously, and the founder, Mark Pauline, is a big fan of Machine Design. In fact, he was kind enough to invite me to his workshop and talk me through several of his machines a few years ago. Here's the article that came out of that interview: Crashing and Burning with Class.

About the Author

Stephen Mraz Blog | Senior Editor

Steve serves as Senior Editor of Machine Design.  He has 23 years of service and has a B.S. Biomedical Engineering from CWRU. Steve was a E-2C Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy. He is currently responsible for areas such as aerospace, defense, and medical.

Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 27, 2025
Ensure workplace safety and compliance with our comprehensive Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Safety Training course. Learn critical procedures to prevent serious injuries.
June 27, 2025
Join our expert webinar to discover essential safety control measures and best practices for engineering a truly safe and compliant industrial environment.
June 25, 2025
An innovative aircraft with electric drives combines the best of both worlds. The cross between drone and helicopter could mean significantly faster and more efficient air emergency...
June 25, 2025
Effective when other materials fail, ceramics are particularly suitable for applications requiring wear and chemical resistance, sliding characteristics or biocompatibility. Discover...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!