the perpetual energy wasting machine by niklas roy

the ‘perpetual energy wasting machine’ by niklas roy

developed by german artist niklas roy, the ‘perpetual energy wasting machine’ is a rope and pulley construction which moves an elevator continuosly between two levels of a building. with movement recurring in cycles – the first raises the elevator up one floor, while the second brings it to its original position again.

‘as a hydraulic elevator, the cabin’s mass is not equalized by a counterweight, where only kinetic operations consume electricity. estimating that the empty conveyor cabin has a mass of 350 kilograms, the wasted energy is about 11.8 kilojoules per cycle, equaling to the metabolic energy of approximately 1/3 grams of fat. inside the elevator, a modified printing calculator, keeps track of the wasted energy, automatically adding up 5.9 kilojoules per half cycle. the results of this symbolic calculation – which does neither regard energy loss by friction, nor a heavier cabin due to possible passengers – go straight to a waste bin.’

the perpetual energy wasting machine video

pulleys in place

second floor system

detail of the contraption

calculator view from inside the elevator

energy wasted records

exterior view of the elevator