Part 4/10:
Another key challenge was ensuring the beests walked smoothly. Jansen discovered that the path traced by the legs was crucial for maintaining balance. To address this, he developed a computer program that simulated different proportions and placements of tubes to find the optimal footpath. Instead of brute force calculation, he cleverly applied evolutionary methods, starting with 1,500 prototypes, refining them until he identified what he termed the "13 holy numbers." These proportions represent the genetic code of the Strandbeest, dictating how they walk in synchronization.