Materials and Kinetic System
Materials: Outside surface of the Chimera is clad in “skin panels”; these are firm but flexible impregnated fabric to create a skin-like form wrapped over metal frame, attached via bolted joints and hinges to the steel structural skeleton. Smaller inclusions in these panels are transparent recycled plastic, allowing sunlight in during the day and artificial light out, at night.
Dimensions: Based on the scale sketch above and the scale model, all of the skin panels will be curved and slightly domed surfaces, necessitating an internal framework. The panels on the thorax must be of a matching pair, representing four sections, split at the spine. Each of these side panels is roughly 10′ long and 3′ – 4′ wide. Where the thorax touches the ground, the tail section begins: These sections may be split on the spine as the tail area will provide storage for batteries, controls and other production equipment. Tail panels are necessarily more curved and domed than the thorax panels, ranging from 5′ long x 2′ wide to 1′ x 1′, on one side, as they decrease in size towards the tail.
“Breathing” Kinetics: The covering panels on either side of the thorax section of Chimera (four panels on either side) are hinged from the top structural member and tethered at the bottom. They are pushed up via small pneumatics in a slow constant rhythm to simulate a breath-like quality. This motion is synchronized with the “breathing” flame effect on its spine.
