Flash Beetle @ Robotic Petting Zoo
The Flash Beetle is a speculative robot creature. It is inspired by a beetle exploring its environment. When it feels scared by things approaching it, it uses a blinding technique by flashing a bright light.
Hrvoje Hirsl
The Flash Beetle was imagined by researcher Jordan Boyle and artist Hrvoje Hirsl developed together with Tiina Otala (mechanics) and Sam Leveau (software). Hiršl’s practice moves fluidly between art, science, and philosophy. Rather than explaining, he invites you to experience: to stand inside a space where information feels alive, or where algorithms seem to breathe. His work doesn’t just use technology — it questions it, asking how our tools change the way we understand nature, ourselves, and what is real. Jordan Boyle is part of the Human Robot Interaction group at Industrial Design Engineering (TU Delft). Tiina Otala and Sam Leveau study at TU Delft.