Even as a single pendulum theres an exponentially large possible distinct real trajectories that could be traveled through, so vast that its pretty much random. It depends on how precise you want to get with microscopically small differences in trajectories.
A real-world pendulum exists in a phase space with a finite but astronomically large number of distinct microstates, a number ultimately bounded by the Bekenstein bound. The path it takes through these states is driven by a feedback loop between fundamental quantum indeterminacy (which provides random initial conditions and perturbations) and classical chaos (which exponentially amplifies those microscopic random seeds into macroscopic unpredictability).
The sensitivity to initial conditions and 10^high_number possible microstates to transition through within the phase space topology with little computational/action energy cost differentiating them appears as true randomness to our limited precision abilities.
Whether or not the superposition of possible microstates gets collapsed due to truly non-algorithmic process relying on actual probabilistic random chance or just an unrepresentably complex algorithmically deterministic one is a matter of ongoing quantum research and we cant even tell a difference in real world case anyway. For all intents and purposes yes from our perspective its basically truly random.
Its even more than a pendulum, as pendulum free swing on a nearly perfectly flexible wire. Cat toys typically swing on a plastic wire with some rigidity, making it less a single pendulum and more a complex system of counterweights against a single large point of inertia.
Even as a single pendulum theres an exponentially large possible distinct real trajectories that could be traveled through, so vast that its pretty much random. It depends on how precise you want to get with microscopically small differences in trajectories.
A real-world pendulum exists in a phase space with a finite but astronomically large number of distinct microstates, a number ultimately bounded by the Bekenstein bound. The path it takes through these states is driven by a feedback loop between fundamental quantum indeterminacy (which provides random initial conditions and perturbations) and classical chaos (which exponentially amplifies those microscopic random seeds into macroscopic unpredictability).
The sensitivity to initial conditions and 10^high_number possible microstates to transition through within the phase space topology with little computational/action energy cost differentiating them appears as true randomness to our limited precision abilities.
Whether or not the superposition of possible microstates gets collapsed due to truly non-algorithmic process relying on actual probabilistic random chance or just an unrepresentably complex algorithmically deterministic one is a matter of ongoing quantum research and we cant even tell a difference in real world case anyway. For all intents and purposes yes from our perspective its basically truly random.
Its even more than a pendulum, as pendulum free swing on a nearly perfectly flexible wire. Cat toys typically swing on a plastic wire with some rigidity, making it less a single pendulum and more a complex system of counterweights against a single large point of inertia.
It is being moved by a multi joint arm.