Logic Matter - Thesis Prep 793a Zhuoyi Zhang

SELF-ASSEMBLY Zhuoyi Zhang Instructor: José Sanchez

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. Study Background In Non-Architectural Field ........................ 4 2. Self-Assembly Lab And Skylar Tibbits ........................................ 8 CHAPTER ONE - PROJECT 1. Four Ingredients Of Self-Assembly .............................................. 12 1.1 Simple Assembly Sequences ................................................13 1.2 Programmable Parts ................................................................14 1.3 Force Or Energy Of Activation ..............................................15 1.4 Error Correction And Redundancy ......................................16 2. Precedent Study - Logic Matter .....................................................17 2.1 Background Knowledge .........................................................18 2.2 Physical Mechanism .................................................................19 2.3 User Programmability ..............................................................21 2.4 Geometry Descriptions ...........................................................26 2.5 Benefit From Redundancy ......................................................30 CHAPTER TWO - HISTORICAL THESIS 1. Early Discussions ..................................................................................32 2. Self-Reproducing Machines .............................................................34 CHAPTER THREE - ANALYSIS 1. Appreciation...........................................................................................40 1.1 The New Carriers Of Information .........................................41 1.2 The Converted Role Of External Forces ............................43 2. Critique 1.1 The Scale Of The Unit ...............................................................45 1.2 External Condition......................................................................46 1.3 Redundancy ............................................................................... 47 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES .........................................................49

INTRODUCTION

• Study Background In Non-Architectural Field People are always expecting an easier life. An easier life is always constructed with more A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t — pa g e 4 —

complexity.

Nowadays,

architecture

which

is easier to use always got a more complex constructing phase. Since the developlment pace of construction techniques can hardly catch up with the development of digital techniques for design now, people are struggling to construct with higher precision, tones of constructing pieces, and cope with more hidden problems. It’s about time to explore a new way to constructing.

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Different from how abiological physical world been built, most biological processes utilise self-assembly for construction. These biological structures’ constructing process, like proteins and DNA, cell replication, are much more complicated and precise than any of artificial physical structures. What’s more, the process of biological self-assembly also adapt to the environment

with self-repair for organism

longevity. Assuming that we can figure out how to design the constructing phase and let the material assembling by itself, it woud open another door for future’s constructing exploration.

Fig. 1.1 Conceptual cartoon of programmed self-assembly. Saul Griffith use this cartoon to summarize the goals and approach to self-assembly machine in the beginning of his PHD thesis paper “Growing Machine”. It has shown the examples of self assembly in our natural world.

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1.1

Fig. 1.2 The roles of shape in self-assembly in the study of nanoscale self-assembly. These diagram shows the explorations on potential of different shapes to generate interactions and new patterns or shapes.

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(a) packing

(b) directionality

(c) selectivity

(d) attraction

(e) connectivity

(f) dynamics

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Fig. 1.3 The DNA-double helix chemical composition and structure. (i) Complementary nucleotide bases: adenine (A) and thymine (T); and guanine (G) and cytosine (C).8 (ii) The double stranded DNA-helix.

Fig. 1.4 Viral self assembly process. Viral

process by which components spontaneously

particles are a remarkable, naturally occuring

form larger scale structures, without external

example of molecular self-assembly: the

guidance.

(i)

(ii)

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• Self-Assembly Lab And Skylar Tibbits Biological processes of self assembly inspires people to seek the new way on delivering ideas via creating manual physical progress to A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

get further practice on realizing self-assembly

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on reimagining construction. It is located in

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structures.

In the study of self-assembly, MIT self-assembly lab is indispensable to know. It is a research lab which is dedicating to explore the possibilities MIT’s International Design Center which is a cross-disciplinary design research center. Self-

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Assembly Lab is doing research focus on three domains -- Self-Assembly & Self-Organization, Programmable Materials & 4D Printing, and Granular Jammable Materials. These three domains shows the ambitions of Self-Assembly Lab on pursuing future achievments on theory, material, and technology.

The lab is founded by Skylar Tibbits, who is an Assistant Professor of Design Research in the Department of Architecture of MIT. “Previously, he has worked at a number of

renowned design offices including: Zaha Hadid Architects, Asymptote Architecture and Point b Design. He has designed and built large-scale installations at galleries around the world, has been published extensively in outlets such as the New York Times, Wired, Nature, Fast Company as well as various peer-reviewed journals and books.“ (http://www.selfassemblylab.net/laboratory_team.php) Two interesting projects that are mainly leaded

by Skylar Tibbits will be presented in this part, which shows the combinations between biological thesis and architecture intentions on self-assembly via creating manual physical models.

Fig. 1.5 Skylar Tibbits Fig. 1.6 Self-Assembly Lab.

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• Self-Assembly Line: TED Conference, CA 2012 This project is done in collaboration with the molecular biologist Arthur Olson at the Scripps

Fig. 1.7 The large structure/container

Research Institute and Seed’s Phyllotaxis Lab.

with

It is a large-scale version of a self-assembly virus capsid. A discrete set of modules, which is

units

and

the

outcome

configurations.

Fig. 1.8 The process of self-assembly.

Unitary geometry of the units and the

holded by a large structure / container, will be

strategy of attrachtion mechanism

motivated to reassemble as a whole by stochastic

(magnics).

rotating the large container. The unit geometry and magnetics attraction will ensure the units combinng each other in a locally-correct way.

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As the external forces changing randomly, the disired configurations can be programmed by preseted unit geometry, the attraction mechanism, and the number of units supplied.

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• Self-Folding Proteins: MIT 2012 Fig. 1.9 The project physical model

This project aims to study macro-scale protein

demonstrats the process of self-

folding to gain clearness on “non-intuitive

assembly from 1D to 3D.

and non-tangible aspects of self-assembly phenomena”[1]. The Self-Folding Proteins are single elastic strands of material which are A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

visually divided into several sections with chamfer at the section ends. By preseting the angle of those chamfers, the protein strands become a self-assembly system from 1D to 3D.

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[1] Self-Folding Proteins: MIT 2012, source: http://www.sjet.us/MIT_SELFFOLDING_PROTEIN.html

CHAPTER ONE - PROJECT

• Four Ingredients Of Self-Assembly By learning from biological systems, it is inevitable to see that the research of self-assembly should get involved with the ability to enable components A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

of structures as information capacity, and to build structures ahead with assembly instructions. The rapidly developed digital technologies has presented a new platform for designers to realize digital fabrication and be able to deal with structures which are too complex to handle with in the past.

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However,

12

today’s

exploration

of

constructing

technologies is still trapped in the existing traditional

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train of thought, which would never bring out the best for the digital design and fabrication. Self-assembly can to seen as the worthy trial or even an innovation on finding a different way to build structures in the future. The core of the self-assembly to Tibbits is to define smart parts. He suggests the structure should be assembled by smart parts and constructed more like computer science or biological process instead of putting pieces together by arbitrary forces.

Skylar Tibbits has proposed four simple ingredients as basic principles to design with self-assembly in the future: 1) simple assemply sequences; programmable parts; 3) force or energy of activation; and 4) erro coeerction and redundancy.

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•• Simple Assembly Sequences What we try to do with this element is to find out a single sequence of instruction. To take DNA assembly sequence with A, C, T, and G as an example, we can utilize simple order like left and right, up and down etc. to form a sequence

Fig. 2.01 The Decibot project. Image

instruction. The goal is to describe geometry by

series showing the robotic chain in

presetting an algorithm as simple as possible.

2-D AND 3-D shapes.

Skylar Tibbits has presented a series of project that are based on simple assembly sequences.

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The Macrobot and Decibot are two similar project in different scale. They are robot chains with variable folding angles. The variation of folding angles helps changing the robot chain geometry from any 1-D to 2-D or 3-D shape. Every robotic units of the chain will read the assembly instruction, find out the exact locations of

—

rotating orders, and rotate to the corresponding

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angle.

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•• Programmable Parts As the second ingredient of self-assembly,

Fig. 2.02 Diagrams from project Logic

programmable parts, or smart joints, are the

Matter. The sphere volume shown

ideal expected assembly units. It is the most

is described by a non-intersecting

important link to pass assembly instruction from one to another. Programmable parts also

random path tour around the exterior surface. This single path along the surface describes a sequence of

need to be fully feasible to realize the changing

rotational angles to approximate the

order along the initial description of geometry.

exterior of the sphere’s geometry.

Therefore, every joint should be able to have at least two state for itself to switch between. Also, every joint should be able to correspond to the A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

instruction sequences.

The assembling units are no longer isolated matters. They are “smart” units that are both carriers and deliverers of information or messages.

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•• Force Or Energy Of Activation We will prefer assembled structure to stay in a

Fig. 2.03 Biased Chain is a simple

steady state without any unexpected dissociative

chain

pieces. The force or energy of activation is like the muscles of the whole structure system. It

fo

connected

parts,

each

containing a binary switch that user qctivates by shaking the chain. It is a completely passive system capable

will be the guarantee that instruction would be

of self-assembly through a simple

delivered through smart joints smoothly and

shaking force.

uninterrupted. For robotic mechanism, the force will usually be electricity supplied to a drive system. However, in order to do the research with

Fig. 2.04 Each part then switches into the programmed sequence and the chains fold from any 1-D geometry to any 3-D structure.

taking more consideration in architectural way, A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

the best choice is passive source.

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•• Error Correction And Redundancy In order to make sure that the self-assembly structure grows in an accurate way, error correction is an essential element. It would never be easy to guarantee that a single sequence assembly instruction is faultless at the beginning

Fig. 2.05 Diagram of single random growing path with redundant inputs (Project: Logic Matter). Orange and

of a new self-assembly process. You never know

green lines show the single path,

if the finished geometry would turn out to be

black shown as redundant nodes.

the perfect shape as the initial expectation. By getting references from digital communications which relies on sending far more information A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t —

than

necessary

to

guarantee

accurate

communication, we might need to build physical self-assembly structures with redundancy and unnecessary extra connections. In other words, building structures with redundancy is the key to minimize the rate of error occurring or even avoid all of them.

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• Precedent Study - Logic Matter Logic matter is a project that Skylar Tibbits proposed in 2010. It is a project under the research on programmable materials & 4D printing, which is focusing on physical

both of them in a programmable manner. Logic Matter is a project that different from other self-assembly project which focus on self-reconfigurable units like MarcoBot or Decibot, or Biased Chains which focus on using passive energy to activate the self-assembly process. It cares more on how to make assembling structure grow with materials along a simple passive

—

of passive mechanical digital logic modules for large-scale

structures”[2].

The physical model that he made is a successful substantialization for intangible digital logic. It is more than a structure system, it is a new system of computing constituted by smart materials that carrying both data and space or volume.

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Skylar Tibbits introduces this project as “a system

of

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digital logic with error correction.

self-guided-assembly

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matter that is capable to change its form or function or

•• Background Knowledge on logic gate

Fig. 2.06 AND gate. Output is logic 1 (true) only when all inputs are logic 1,

Logic Matter as a new computing system is using NAND digital logic gate as the key to deal with data from input materials. Digital logic gate is a

otherwise it is logic 0 (false).

Fig. 2.07 NAND gate. output is logic 0 (false) only when all inputs are logic 1 (true), otherwise it is logic 1.

methodology for dealing with expressions and

Fig. 2.08 OR gate. Output is logic 0

state tables containing discrete variables. In this

(false) only when all inputs are logic

sense the term is synonymous with Boolean

0, otherwise it is logic 1 (true).

algebra. As mentioned in the introduction of second ingredient of self-assembly by Skylar

Fig. 2.09 NOR gate. Output is logic 1 (true) only when all inputs are logic 0 (false), otherwise it is logic 0.

Tibbits, smart joints need to have at least two state to switch. The application of logic gate is A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

good choice as the main instruction to the selfassembly. Logic gate usually has two logic states, logic 1 (true) and logic 0 (false), as both input and output. There are mainly four different logic gate including AND, OR, NAND, and NOR gates.

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2.06

2.08

2.07

2.09

•• Physical Mechanism The physical geometry prototype of the unit is a right-angle tetrahedron. Tetrahedrons copies that in the same scale have the potential to be assembled each other with all four faces. In order

Fig. 2.10 These four drawings are the

to associate with attribute of smart material

geometry description diagrams.

carrying digital logic information, the unit’s four faces are basically divided into two input faces

1: female slots on input faces for receiving ; 2: male pegs on output face of True;

and two output faces. The improvement of the face geometry would ensure these two different faces combined each other in a steady status.

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1

1

1

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1

2

1

1

1

1 2

2 2.10

2

Fig. 2.11 Grey and white plastic Logic Matter mechanisms after rotomolding.

Fig. 2.12 Output faces with values of 0 & 1 shown.

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2.11

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•• User Programmability There are two roles that a unit can play. One is functioned as NAND gate to receive input data

Fig. 2.13 Skylar Tibbits’s diagram showing

a

primitive

tetrahedron

unit with input and output faces, resulting in a NAND Logic Gate and

via its two input face and decide which one

spatial computation when the user

output face will be utilized (Output 1 or Output

assembles the units.

0). The other role of a unit is that it will dedicate as a new data input to a gate which is always being seen as a needful redundancy. The other input data source to the gate should be a previous unit

Fig.

2.14

grasshopper explaining

Diagram scripting the

logic

that to

using help

sequence

instruction for Logic Matter selfassembly

of an already assembled gate’s output data.

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2.14

Fig. 2.15 [1,1]=0. One possible simple assemblies of Logic Matter: the input of [1,1] results in the computation [0]

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Fig. 2.16 Digital model of a simple assemly [1,1]=0.

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Fig. 2.17 [0,0]=1. One possible simple assemblies of Logic Matter: the input of [0,0] results in the computation [1]

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Fig. 2.18 Digital model of a simple assemly [0,0]=1.

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•• Geometry Descriptions After the process of self-assembly, a single path structure will be formed. The structure is mainly assembled by the “gate units”. Due to the NAND

Fig.

logic, geometry’s growing direction will be

model plan with gate units (grey)

changed every time when the new input data is

and input [1] units (blue) by the input

2.19

A

self-assembly

result

data instruction of [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,

true (1).

1,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0].

Fig. 2.20 The pattern analysis.

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1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

SPACING 1 PATTERN SPACING 0

10101010100100100100 1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2.20

Fig. 2.21 The perspective view of the same model with only gate units.

Fig. 2.22 The perspective view of the same model with gate units (grey) and input [1] units (blue).

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So the single path description can describe any geometry more than just line, like surface or volume, by turning the growing direction of the

Fig.

gate during the process of self-assembly.

2.23

Another

self-assembly

result model plan with gate units (grey) and input [1] units (blue) by the input data instruction of [0,0,0 ,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,1].

Fig. 2.24 The pattern analysis.

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1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

SPACING 1 PATTERN SPACING 0

10101010100100100100 1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2.23

1

1

1

1

1

1

SPACING 1 PATTERN

000010010000100100001001

SPACING 0 4

2

4

2

4

2

2.24

Fig. 2.25 The perspective view of the same model with only gate units.

Fig. 2.26 The perspective view of the same model with gate units (grey) and input [1] units (blue).

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•• Benefit From Redundancy Error will inevitably occur when there is a conflict that the growing geometry blocked by existing unit. Structure can be reassembled accurately by reading the adjacent redundancy unit’s storage information. This mechanism for correcting errors is based on local knowledge which gets benefit from the information carried by the

Fig. 2.27 The same model as the first

one

mentioned

redundancy

input

above units

with (pink

transparent ones).

smart materials.

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CHAPTER TWO - HISTORICAL THESIS

• Early Discussions The early discussions on manufactural self-assmebly A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

or self-reproducing inspired by biological processes can be traced back to 1940’s. The theory is developed on both logical and mechanical aspects. On logical side, John von Neumann believed that it is possible to “build an engine that would have the property of selfreproduction” 1 . He proposed to construct a machine as a basic component which is capable to build any

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describable machine under reasonable logical rules.

This machine should “carry a sort of tail bearing a code describing how to make the bady of the machine and

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also how to reprint the code” 2. On the other side, people also attempted to achieve the goal by making progress on mechanical trials. In 1958, Brooklyn College chemistry professor Homer Jacobson has comeup with a linear device as an “organism“ powered by electricity, which its unit can make copies of itself by making a main body object moving on the track of a rail and autonomously choosing and assembling element alone different rail forks.

Fig. 3.01 In 1958, Homer Jacobson designed an “organism” made of boxcars that could use sensors to select other cars on the track and assemble them on a siding into models of itself. “Head” cars have “brains,” and “tail” cars have “muscles” and “eyes” together, a head and a tail make an organism in which the head directs the tail to watch for available cars elsewhere on the track and shunt them appropriately onto a siding to create a new organism.

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• Self-Reproducing Machines In 1959, L. S. Penrose and R. Penrose designed Self Reproducing Machine. The initial idea was based on the principles to construct the self-reproducing machine A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t — pa g e 34 —

with simple units or bricks. Penrose had design three different unit with different strategies on assembly logic and geometry. The first part called Activating CamLever. This model takes advantage of tilting principle to show an attemptation on transmiting activation between units without linking each other. The second designed part is Double-Hook Units. Since one of living matter’s characteristics is energy trap, it is an trial on how to trap the potential energy of the unsteady units and bind the structure to a steady status. The last

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proposal is called Blocking Device. After figuring out how to assemble units with interactions and bind those units to a machine, this part experienced the potential to prevent units from becoming endless self-assembly group. In model, no more than four unit bricks could be placed next to each other. Penrose had put all these three proposals together to become a complete selfreproducing machine.

Fig.

3.02

demonstrates

Mechanical some

of

“Crystal”. the

It

underlying

principles of self reproducing machines. At upper left in a appear two identical units at the “neutral”, position in which they are unabIe to link up with one another. Introduction of two

for entire group of units to link up and form a

linked units as a “seed” in panel at upper right

single structure when subjected to agitation

imparts tilt and makes it possible

in the horizontal plane.

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Fig.

3.03

Self-Reproduction.

It

is

here

demonstrated by units of a simple kind, identical with those that form the “crystal”

neutral units and they link up to reproduce

except that the units each lack hooks at one

the structure of their seed.

end. In a the seed is formed with the gray

Fig. 3.04 Activating Cam-lever incorporates

telltale mark showing at the linkage; in b the

the simple tilting principle of the self-

seed unit is formed with the colored telltale

reproducing machines shown above for use

mark showing. When the seed of each kind is

with more complex struclures. These cams,

agitated in the horizontal plane with neutral

held in tilted position by doweling in slot,

units, the appropriate tilt is imparted to the

transmit activation but do not link.

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3.04

Fig. 3.05 Steady-State System of hook and release. When two units abut one another (a), one hooks onto the other, but the one that is hooked is itself set in release position.

The addition from the left of a third unit (b) causes the first two to unhook (c).

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Fig. 3.06 Blocking Device. It prevents more than four units from coming close together.

When four units are in close contact, the sliding bar protrudes at either end of the group, keeping other units away. This device keeps groups from growing too large before they divide.

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Fig. 3.07 Complete Self¡reproducing Machine.

This model incorporates the bosic ellements and principles depicted in the preceding illustrations. The seed (at center in a) is linked by double hooks, incorporates the tilted cam-

so that only one more neutral unit can be

lever activating principle and is protected

added. When the fourth unit joins the triple

by the blocking device in its base. When

group (c), it disengages the second hook in

the neutral unit at left joins the seed (b), it

the original seed, causing it to come apart in

disengages one of the hooks holding the seed

the middle and form two duplications of itself

together and sets the blocking mechanism

(d).

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CHAPTER THREE - ANALYSIS

• Appreciation The reason that I choose self-assembly as my precedent A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

topic is that it is a new train of thought, which could lead us to a new world to see the relationship between materials and communications is totally differently from nowadays.

We are now gradually accepting and appreciating the new way to do design with parametric scripting. But it

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is still confusing to me on the contrast of the innovated shape and the traditional constructing technologies.

Learning from the structure of natural system can be

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a new direction to explore constructing innovations.

We have already figured out how to create spatial geometries that have better communication with its surroundings and its users. Now, self-assembly has given us a way to find new materials or even architecture components with communication or interaction as the new characteristics..

Skylar Tibbits has pictured the future of self-assembly as a way to construct like biological processes. Materials would be smart with its new characteristics of carrying information. The interactions between smart materials will also help to keep the structure steady from the disturbance by external or unexpected forces.

•• The New Carriers Of Information Reinforced concrete, as a construction material, is widely used in many types of structures. The bars hidden in concrete provide the strength to keep the overall structure strong enough. However, reinforced bars itself are meaningless nonperceived materials for users. Just like reinforced concrete, most traditional constructing materials

Fig. 4.01 Reinforced Concrete Bar

don’t talk to each other. Little interaction can be found. Even though we have a perfect knowledge system to constructing in this way now, it is still A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

an arbitrary, arrogant, and brittle way.

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It

traditional

structure is following the same established

architecture. The whole wooden structure

reminds

me

of

principles and rules. However, we can still

is assembled together simply by different

learn something on it that information might

geometric

component

help to make purer and smarter structures.

without utilizing any other extra joint.

Interesting guess about the self-assembly in

Nothing is invisible except the interactive

architecture scale would be what information

shape information between the structure

can be carried with material. Since the idea

components

word,

of self-assembly is kind of radical already,

material (wood pieces) are assembled by

I’d rather imaging the information type in

the interaction of their shape information.

a conservative way. Maybe it could be an

Although the information just mentioned

electronic signal, or more common physical

is not exactly the same meaning as Logic

forms like shape, temperature, etc.

shapes

Chinese

of

joining.

each

In

another

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Matter, since the information of the wooden shape cannot be delivered to another pieces

Fig. 4.02 The structure of Hall of Supreme

and the logic sequence of this assembly

Harmony in Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing, China.

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•• The Converted Role Of External Forces External forces always got negative effect on the stability of a structures. Since materials have little communication between each other, when enforced materials break down, the structure will be in danger. On the contrary, Skylar Tibbits utilizes external passive forces, like shaking, flotage, gravity, tumbling, etc., as the driving

Fig. 4.03 Four External Forces Intention Image: Shaking, Floating, Electricity, Gravity.

forces to activate self-assembly processes.

In architecture scale, those forces might be translated as earthquake, ocean tide, windmill, A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

etc. To explore the new structure with taking consideration of external forces utilization might be another way to learn from self-assembly.

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Fig.

4.04

Shaking.

(BioMolecular

Self-

Assembly: TED Global, Edinburgh 2012) Fig. 4.05 Fluid Force. (Fluid Crystallization: Architectural League Prize: NY 2013)

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• Critiques •• The Scale Of The Unit Even though self-assembly inspires people how

complicated information than geometry or

to improve the constructing methodology, there

other simple data. What else about the larger

is still uncertain factors that I’ve noticed about.

scale of a unit is that the assembly of these

One uncertain factor would be the smart unit’s

space unit allows new activities take place and

feasible scale. In my opinion, the scale of a unit

achieving new value from it. But it seems that

can be an essential factor to influence the mode

this intention is less radical than the idea of

of operation. In Tibbits view, all those projects’

smart materials, and more associate with today’s

assembled units, which are all in small scales, are

theory of urban development.

It means that the single unit is nothing but

Fig. 4.06 Modes of opration in different unit scale

constructing material. However, assuming a

Fig. 4.07 Block’hood is a video game

unit could be in larger scale, it could be applied

developed by Jose Sanchez from Plethora-

as a single “living cell” or a functional space unit.

Instead of only being utilized as smart material, the unit would be capable to carry more

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mostly treated as the element of construction.

Project. Each block can be seen as a space unit with input and output data. The aim of the game is to assemble these different functional units to form a sustainable

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community system.

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4.07

SELF-ASSEMB LY

4.06

•• External Condition The energy of activation for self-assembly constructing

is

mostly

coming

from

its

external conditions. This could be seen as both advantage and disadvantage. It is good because the construction can be stay in steady statues regardless the unexpected external forces.

However, those passive external forces are

A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

always easily gained in special areas. In this way,

Fig. 4.07 Three kinds of extreme

the design might be led to focus on the special

environment

type architecture in extreme condition areas.

forces .

with

passive

external

— pa g e 46 — SELF-ASSEMB LY 4.07

•• Redundancy The third concern to me would be how to deal with redundancy in physical research.

Redundancy, as an essential part of project Logic Matter, does not occur in other projects of SelfAssembly Lab. Other project, like Self-Folding Proteins, The SelfAssembly Line, Decibot and Macrobot, etc. are all have simple and efficient geometry without any redundancy. Maybe this is because Skylar Tibbits does these research with different focusing key A rc h 793 a DDR Repor t

point. Logic Matter is the only project which explores building structure as a computing system aligning with a digital logic instruction.

So redundancy, which is part of computing system, is well-reasoned to be introduced to Logic Matter self-assembly project. However, as thinking in architectural scale, if it is necessary

—

to introduce the concept of redundancy into the

page

constructing process is still questioned for me.

47 —

Or maybe this element is only applied in digital

SELF-ASSEMB LY

generating models in order to successfully get the errorless pre-look of the expectation.

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pa g e —

48

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES

1. Penrose, L. S. (June 1959). “Self Reproducing Machines.” Scientific American vol.200: pp 105-114.

2. Dunn, Nick. “Digital fabrication in architecture“, 2012, pp 180-181

4. Skylar Tibbits. (March 2012)“Design to Self-Assembly“, Architectural Design Volume 82, Issue 2, pages 68–73, March/April 2012 5. SJET, Available from: http://www.sjet.us/ 6. Self-Assembly Lab, Available from: http://www.selfassemblylab.net/ 7. Saul Thomas Griffith, (September 2004), “Growing Machines“ 8. Homer Jacobson, (September 1958), “American Scientist”, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 255-284

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9. BLOCK’ HOOD, Available from: http://www.plethora-project.com/blockhood/index.html?

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3. Tibbits, S., & Cheung, K. (2012). Programmable materials for architectural assembly and automation. Assembly Automation, 32(3), 216-225.