27/05/2025
WOODPECKERS / The Garden of the Future
Kris Verdonck
at Ohme Brussels
SUSTAINABLE ROBOTICS
Artist talk Kris Verdonck
Wednesday 28 May 2025 at 19:00
Crossing Wires - Arts, AI & Robotics
presented by Ohme and hosted in collaboration with BriAS Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies.
The Garden of the Future imagines an ecosystem where self-sustaining robots, powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind, perform ecological roles in harmony with natural cycles. Free from batteries or power grids, these robots adapt to energy fluctuations, challenging conventional consumption.
The installation by Kris Verdonck proposes a poetic integration of robotics into ecosystems, encouraging dialogue on sustainable technology and its potential to address environmental challenges.
The core research explores the feasibility, design, and control of low-tech motors that operate solely on the irregular availability of sunlight and wind. This challenges the prevalent model of continuous, stable energy supply, advocating for systems attuned to ecological cycles.
Ohme Lab collaborated with Kris Verdonck on key technical developments, including the design and creation of a robotic woodpecker fulfilling ecological functions inspired by its natural counterpart. The team also explored low-tech motors powered by fluctuating energy sources and contributed to biomimetic designs that align with natural ecosystem rhythms.
While The Garden of the Future remains a work in progress, the residency has laid a strong foundation for continued exploration. The interdisciplinary collaboration between Ohme, Kris Verdonck, and scientific institutions highlights the potential for innovation in sustainable robotics and ecological integration. This ongoing project reexamines energy use, ecological restoration, and the role of art and science in addressing today’s environmental concerns.
