Below is a computer-generated model of just the inner sphere:
If made in metal, there could be tabs with holes attached to the feet,
that connect on the back of the head as indicated with dotted lines
below. Then round-head bolts with hexagonal sockets would be used to
hold everything together and serve as eyes:
I made a seven-inch prototype in acrylic plastic, to verify that all
the parts can
be woven through each other without jamming together. Because it is
clear, it is difficult to determine what is what in this photo, but in
person it is quite cool looking:
Mathematically, the design is a
symmetric arrangement of planar
components. A smaller 3D-printing prototype is shown on my
rapid
prototyping page. I brought the acrylic model and the 3D printing
model with me to MIT to show people what we would be building
at the group assembly event.
Update 2004:
It is now installed inside the Stata Center
Copyright 2003, George W. Hart