Bee++ by Needlab

Bee ++

Index Introduction 04 First Expirement - Hacking Beehive

Computing the Collection Behaviour

Material Wax Experiment

Second Experiment 25 Compute the Construction Behaviour

Construtction Simulation 31 Machine Programming 33 3D Structures 38 Component 42

Bee ++ The project is intended to explore how digital and biologically inspired fabrication techniques can be combined to produce architectural structures. The main element of the project: the honeybees are insects that inhabit collectively in a colony. These insects’ can exhibit characteristics as complex as one of a mammal by collaborating together through mechanisms of collective intelligence. Bees collectively act as one body which shows a behaviour analogue to the one of a single mammal. After studying and decoding the bee behaviour, we are now exploring a possible dialogue between natural bees and cyber-bees, based on the principle of swarm intelligence and looking at algorithms that are able to describe different aspects of the colony behaviour. (Such as ABC algorithm and KLS algorithm.) Our team programmed a xy plotter to simulate the way honey bees deposit wax while building their hives. To increase stability of the emerging structures we created a composite material by depositing wax on to jute fibres. The texture and the pattern of the wax deposition are generated by the algorithm describing the construction behaviour of the bees. In this way our research project aims at exploring ways of overcoming the existing limitations of additive manufacturing at architectural scales. The architectural and scientific community is now looking at natural ways of 3D printing, like for example deploying silkworms or specific type of cyanobacteria over existing substratum and how this could help us to develop ways of “printing” architectural structures that are more resilient than current 3D printing technologies. Similarly we are exploring construction behaviour of the bees in creating additive morphologies. In Urban Public Spaces which we argue currently lack interaction with natural phenomena and process, our resulting structures could be considered an ‘additive space enhancers’. With this we intend to express the fact that these structures are not only visual enhancers but also behave as enhancers to all senses. The sense of touch by the texture created, the fragrant odour from beeswax, buzzing sounds from the bees and taste from the honey. This space is a complete sensorial experience to the public. Wax as material is impermeable; we are using the technic that bees use to

make their hives water tight in making human adaptable spaces which act as rain shelters. Bees use their hives for storage of honey using the same ideology the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;space enhancersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; could be made into rain water collectors.

The space enhancer will be an object that is evolving with the public and growing gradually by interacting with the mechanic apparatus. This in itself will create a whole new perception of the place and would transform it from a static container to an event where people can experience a higher level of sensorial interaction with processes of production. We are also raising awareness about bees among the public through this project on collective intelligence, machines, material processes. Faculty: Claudia Pasquero, Carmelo Zappulla, Maria Kuptsova Students: Burak Paksoy, Firas Safiyeddeen, Michel Azzi, Nikolaos Argyros, Sameera Chukkapalli

Beehavior We are interested in understanding bee behavior because of their swarm intelligence, high capacity for self learning and cognitive ability. Their optimised self organisation skills in information gathering. Their indeginous division of labour in construction. Furthermore we are interested in interpretation of these inspiring innovators abilities, into architecture.

All bees:

- Estimated 1/3 of food is pollination dependent. - Make 6.000 tonnes of honey. - Contribute â&#x201A;Ź 400 million to the economy.

A Colony: - Pollinates 4.000 m2 fruit trees. - Makes 14 kg of honey. - Contains 50.000 bees. g wax

energy consumption

Diagram showing the amount of wax needed for cell construction.

Diagram showing wax production and construction for female bee during itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifex

Average number of dead bees / month.

Maximum nectar collection / number of visits.

10 Bee Life Cycle Diagram

First Experiment - Hacking Beehive Bee hive is designed and built by understanding bee size and its behaviour.

Entrance

Desining of Curves Below are the graphics of the hacked live bee hive. Here we have tried to trick the bees in believing that they are building the conventional curves but leading them to change the course of direction. We have tried to experiment 3 dimensional curve bend, curve towards gravity, intersection of curves. Here we are testing with play of density, and their directional knowledge. Also covered the other half of the hive with insulation to prevent colony collapse.

Metal curves with strings.

Bee Behavior Through this research strand, the potential importance of organic interactivity and conceptualising buildings, as complex adaptive organisms has become very apparent. Elements like buildings in the city form density, just like nodes on the surface of a structural mesh; these interactive architectural bodies will form a network of live nodes. Imagine if all would feed on data produced by other buildings and elements and then all would behave in real time, all would tell the others what they did, and become a self-learning entity. Self-learning capacity will only arise if the architectural body will be part of a swarm, if they can communicate with its peers. Then they may start building up a body of knowledge.

COMPUTING THE COLLECTION BEHAVIOUR Media: [ Processing 3, Rhinoceros 5, Grasshopper.] Input: [Agents.] [Targets.] [BeeHive.] Rules: [Five(5) different targets with different fitness each.] [Behaviour.] [Fitness evaluation.] [Shortest path.] [Optimal solution.] Output: [Position of each agent.] [Trail of each agent.]

Valldaura.

1st Generetion

25th Generetion

50th Generetion

First agent path with highest evaluation .

Hacking Beehive Results • We were aware of the results as it is not the season for building for bees. • The hive below the installed hive is incomplete and is under construction by the bees. • Within 3 weeks of installation the bees have started with deposition of wax on two points of the curves.

Material Hack Explanation As we studied the properties of bee wax, we learnt that it is brittle in its dry state. Hence to make it more durable we wanted to add natural fibres to bee wax. • Bee Wax + Cotton – because cotton has more absorption capacity but they are small fibres. • Bee Wax + Jute fibres –because jute has less absorption capacity but they are long fibres. • Bee Wax + strings – because they are already in their maximum tension.

Natural Bee Wax

diformation depth : 4.6 mm 500 g

time taken to reach breaking point : 6 s

distance: 1000 mm

Natural Bee Wax with Jute Fibers

diformation depth : 6.5 mm 500 g

time taken to reach breaking point : 23 s

distance: 1000 mm

Natural Bee Wax with Cotton Fibers

diformation depth : 10.5 mm 500 g

time taken to reach breaking point : 20 s

distance: 1000 mm Natural Bee Wax with Strings

diformation depth : 9.1 mm 500 g

time taken to reach breaking point : 12 s

distance: 1000 mm

Results from Material Experiment From the curve diagrams and time taken to reach breaking point by the materials our analysis resulted in bee wax with jute fibres being the most effective combination.

Weaving with jute fibers.

Weaving with jute threads.

Jute thread and fiber combination.

Second Experiment Derived Design Logic

After understanding the initial stages of hive construction by bees. We have consciously positioned four points in the simulation and processed it with the fitness evaluation. The form is a result of this, ideally if these points are given to the bees the resulting structure/ form would be similar to this result. Step 1: Setting the frame.

Frame

Step 2 : Setting the points Starting points

Generetion point

Step 3 : Swarm simulation

Jute Strings

Jute Strings + Fibers

Workability of the Model We located the four points within the cube, connected them with strings and the agenda was to have the fibres covered with wax. We constructed an apparatus which moved in x, y planes and has a 3D printed extruder for wax. This apparatus was attached to every face of the cube and the wax was printed on the fibres. Once the wax was let to settle according to gravity it resulted in the current form. Extruder. Portable Extruder Frame.

COMPUTE THE CONSTRUCTION BEHAVIOUR Media: [Rhinoceros 5, Grasshopper.] Input: [BeeHive Position.] [Heat flow.] [Starting points.] Rules: [Ten(10) random starting points for constraction.] [Fastest construction path.] [Triangulation follows heating path.] Output: [HoneyComb Form after 4-6 weeks]

Heat flow.

Start points and heat points.

Surface formation for points location.

Beginning of construction.

CONSTRUCTION SIMULATION Media: [Rhinoceros 5, Grasshopper.] Input: [BeeHive Dimensions.] [Dripping Points.] [Starting Points.] Rules: [Connect each new point with the starting points] [Start dripping from the top, following the construction diagram] Output: [txt file with cordinates]

Weaving path.

Dripping points.

MACHINE PROGRAMMING Project: [m]MTM Media: [Python, Gestalt Nodes]

Kepton tape for insulation of high temperature areas.

Power supply

Metal container 40 mm d Nichrome Wire 0.9mm

Gage diameter : 0.9 mm. Temperature : 180 C. Volts : 12V Length : 170 cm.

Extruder Details. The Nichrome wire was coiled around the metal container inbetween the layers of kapton tape for insulation. The two ends of the nichrome wire were connected to the power supply. The coiling was done equidistantly in order to avoid cold zones. The closer the coils the more was the resistance. In about 120 seconds the wax was melting.

Printing Machine Results.

Metaball - Making of whole continuous 3D structure.

Multiplane Frame 3D Structure.

Possible illustration for assembly of components.

Derived design logic for components to assembly the whole structure.

References N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Bonabeau, Eric, Marco Dorigo, and Guy Theraulaz. Swarm Intelligence. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print. Code.algorithmicdesign.net,. “Algorithmic Design”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Coleman, James, and Nadya Peek. “[M]MTM”. Monograph. N.p., 2014. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Jacobs-online.biz,. “Nichromecalc”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Natureofcode.com,. “The Nature Of Code”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Slideshare.net,. “Bees Algorithm”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Tautz, JuÌˆrgen, David C Sandeman, and Helga R Heilmann. The Buzz About Bees. Berlin: Springer, 2008. Print. YouTube,. “Amazing Time-Lapse: Bees Hatch Before Your Eyes”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. YouTube,. “Amazing Time-Lapse: Bees Hatch Before Your Eyes”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. YouTube,. “High Speed Summary Of Life Inside The Beehive / Snabbspolning Genom Livet I BisamhÃ¤llet”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. YouTube,. “More Than Honey (2013) - Bee Documentary HD”. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

Claudia Pasquero Carmelo Zappulla Maria Kuptsova Burak Paksoy Firas Safiyeddeen Michel Azzi Nikolaos Argyros Sameera Chukkapalli Spacial Thanks Jonathan Minchin Ferdinand Meier