The Kinetic Sculptures of Theo Jansen

Theo Jansen is a Dutch physicist/artist who refers to his large walking, usually wind powered sculptures -- which he calls "Strandbeests" ("Beach Beasts") -- as if they are alive and capable of evolving, and the stepping he developed for them as equivalent to the creation of the wheel. I don't know that I'd go that far, and I see his creations as works of art, not highly developed technology. Nonetheless, they are very beautiful and fascinating works of art. Here's a TED talk showing his work: