Synergetics (Fuller) Synergetics is the empirical study of systems in transformation, with an emphasis on total system behavior unpredicted by the behavior of any isolated components, including humanity's role as both participant and observer. Since systems are identifiable at every scale from the quantum level to the cosmic, and humanity both articulates the behavior of these systems and is composed of these systems, synergetics is a very broad discipline, and embraces a broad range of scientific and philosophical studies including tetrahedral and close-packed-sphere geometries, thermodynamics, chemistry, psychology, biochemistry, economics, philosophy and theology.
Despite a few mainstream endorsements such as articles by Arthur Loeb and the naming of a molecule "buckminsterfullerene," synergetics remains an iconoclastic subject ignored by most traditional curricula and academic departments. "Synergetics" is defined by R. Tensegrity - Portal To Model Making. Step-By-Step Tensegrity Tower part 1. Tensegrities are a type of structural system where all of the compression members (poles/columns) are supported and connected to each other with tensions members (ropes).
This means that the poles look as if they are floating in a mass of cables. As promised, I am going to explain step-by-step how to build a tensegrity tower similar to the flagpole I made at Kontiki this year (shown here with the flag removed so that the structure is visible). Tensegrity structures (the name means tension-integrity, because the tension cables are what makes the structure stand up) were invented by an American artist called Kenneth Snelson, who has made many tensegrity sculptures. R. Buckminster Fuller, an American inventor and engineer, named the structures after seeing sculptures Snelson had made.