I'll admit up front: my knowledge of physics is sub-fundamental. If any questions I ask seem braindead ignorant, know that it comes from a genuine lack of understanding. Apologies in advance.
For those who don't frequent the movie theaters, Pacific Rim is a movie that was just released. It features giant humanoid machines squaring off against giant, mostly-humanoid creatures. If you can get past the utter absurdity of such things, it is immensely entertaining and I highly recommend it.
One aspect of physics that I am vaguely familiar with is the square-cube law, which in this situation would render such giant creatures impossible: their immense weight would crush their bones. The internal structure of any vertebrate can't function at that kind of macrolevel. The machines, on the other hand, made me curious.
Let's say that, through some bizarre sequence of events, it became absolutely imperative that humanity create a giant* humanoid machine capable of human-like movements. The square-cube law would still apply, obviously, but is there any combination of materials or any structural design that could effectively overcome such a limitation? For the purpose of this question, there is no limit to available resources. What you need, you have. Would such an endeavor be like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill, or is it at least remotely possible?
*"Giant" in this case being roughly 80 meters tall and weighing about 2,000 short tons.
For those who don't frequent the movie theaters, Pacific Rim is a movie that was just released. It features giant humanoid machines squaring off against giant, mostly-humanoid creatures. If you can get past the utter absurdity of such things, it is immensely entertaining and I highly recommend it.
One aspect of physics that I am vaguely familiar with is the square-cube law, which in this situation would render such giant creatures impossible: their immense weight would crush their bones. The internal structure of any vertebrate can't function at that kind of macrolevel. The machines, on the other hand, made me curious.
Let's say that, through some bizarre sequence of events, it became absolutely imperative that humanity create a giant* humanoid machine capable of human-like movements. The square-cube law would still apply, obviously, but is there any combination of materials or any structural design that could effectively overcome such a limitation? For the purpose of this question, there is no limit to available resources. What you need, you have. Would such an endeavor be like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill, or is it at least remotely possible?
*"Giant" in this case being roughly 80 meters tall and weighing about 2,000 short tons.
