Life-like Robotic Dinosaurs Roar to Life in London

Strategic Insights -

The Natural History Museum in London is set to be transformed into a dinosaur-filled wonderland as a blockbuster exhibition featuring seven life-sized animatronic dinosaurs arrives. Built in Japan, the robotic dinosaurs will move realistically, thanks to advanced compressed air "muscles". One of the most striking exhibits will be a pack of velociraptors devouring a baby protoceratops, complete with grasping hands and teeth. Despite some of the exhibits being disturbing in nature, particularly a deadly coelophysis that eats its own young, the museum has included safety notices to warn visitors. The exhibition will also showcase "London's Dinosaur", Baryonyx, also known as Barry, a nine-yard-long reptile with 96 serrated teeth and a killer claw.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Natural History Museum in London will host a blockbuster exhibition featuring seven life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, built in Japan.
  • The robotic dinosaurs will use compressed air "muscles" to move realistically, making them appear lifelike.
  • The exhibition will include a pack of velociraptors devouring a baby protoceratops, with grasping hands and teeth.
  • Safety notices will be included due to some of the exhibits being disturbing in nature, such as the deadly coelophysis that eats its own young.
  • The museum will showcase "London's Dinosaur", Baryonyx, a nine-yard-long reptile with 96 serrated teeth and a killer claw.
  • The Baryonyx was discovered in pits south of Dorking in 1983 by amateur fossil hunter William Walker.
  • The dinosaur was named after Walker, Baryonyx walkeri, by Alan Charig and Angela Milner.
  • The exhibition will also feature a fossil of a coelophysis with one of its own young in its stomach.
  • The feeding habits of the coelophysis are a popular topic among paleontologists, with the museum referring to it as "disturbing".

Statistics:

  • 7 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs will be featured in the exhibition.
  • 96 serrated teeth are present on the snout of Baryonyx.
  • 9 yards is the length of Baryonyx, also known as Barry.
  • 1983 is the year in which William Walker discovered the Baryonyx fossil.

Sources:

  • Emma Freeman, museum spokeswoman
  • William Walker, amateur fossil hunter
  • Alan Charig and Angela Milner, paleontologists who named the species Baryonyx walkeri