Kinematics Kinematics is a system for 4D printing that creates complex, foldable forms composed of articulated modules. The system provides a way to turn any three-dimensional shape into a flexible structure using 3D printing. Kinematics combines computational geometry techniques with rigid body physics and customization. Practically, Kinematics allows us to take large objects and compress them down for 3D printing through simulation. It also enables the production of intricately patterned wearables that conform flexibly to the body. Today we are releasing a jewelry collection and an accompanying customization app built upon our Kinematics concept. Kinematics is a branch of mechanics that describes the motion of objects, often described as the “geometry of motion.” Kinematics produces designs composed of 10’s to 1000’s of unique components that interlock to construct dynamic, mechanical structures. a tale of two apps The Kinematics app allows for the creation of necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Self-Assembly Lab Hod Lipson Animal Architecture: Buckminster Fuller's Tensegrity In 1932 R. Buckminster Fuller famously philosophized: "Don't fight forces. Use them!" (Fuller, Shelter). A man of many trades -- architect, author, designer, futurist, inventor, and the second president of Mensa -- he applied this mantra throughout many aspects of his work. Fuller originally coined the term tensegrity, a portmanteau of tensional integrity, while studying "energetic-synergetic geometry" during World War II. Tensegrity describes a structural-relationship principle in which structural shape is guaranteed by the finitely closed, comprehensively continuous, tensional behaviors of the system and not by the discontinuous and exclusively local compressional member behaviors. Tensegrity structures fall into two main categories -- prestressed and geodesic. Geodesic tensegrity structures are "frameworks made up of rigid struts, each of which can bear tension or compression" (Ingber 49). The presence of tensegrity structures is not limited to avant-garde architecture, however.
Von Neumann universal constructor The first implementation of von Neumann's self-reproducing universal constructor.[1] Three generations of machine are shown: the second has nearly finished constructing the third. The lines running to the right are the tapes of genetic instructions, which are copied along with the body of the machines. The machine shown runs in a 32-state version of von Neumann's cellular automata environment, not his original 29-state specification. John von Neumann's Universal Constructor is a self-replicating machine in a cellular automata (CA) environment. It was designed in the 1940s, without the use of a computer. The fundamental details of the machine were published in von Neumann's book Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata, completed in 1966 by Arthur W. Von Neumann's specification defined the machine as using 29 states, these states constituting means of signal carriage and logical operation, and acting upon signals represented as bit streams. Purpose[edit] Implementation[edit] In 2004, D. C.
Borromean rings Mathematical properties[edit] Although the typical picture of the Borromean rings (above right picture) may lead one to think the link can be formed from geometrically ideal circles, they cannot be. Freedman and Skora (1987) prove that a certain class of links, including the Borromean links, cannot be exactly circular. Alternatively, this can be seen from considering the link diagram: if one assumes that circles 1 and 2 touch at their two crossing points, then they either lie in a plane or a sphere. In either case, the third circle must pass through this plane or sphere four times, without lying in it, which is impossible; see (Lindström & Zetterström 1991). A realization of the Borromean rings as ellipses 3D image of Borromean Rings Linking[edit] In knot theory, the Borromean rings are a simple example of a Brunnian link: although each pair of rings is unlinked, the whole link cannot be unlinked. Hyperbolic geometry[edit] Connection with braids[edit] History[edit] Partial rings[edit]
Molecular self-assembly Supramolecular systems[edit] Molecular self-assembly allows the construction of challenging molecular topologies. One example is Borromean rings, interlocking rings wherein removal of one ring unlocks each of the other rings. DNA has been used to prepare a molecular analog of Borromean rings.[7] More recently, a similar structure has been prepared using non-biological building blocks.[8] Biological systems[edit] Nanotechnology[edit] The DNA structure at left (schematic shown) will self-assemble into the structure visualized by atomic force microscopy at right. Molecular self-assembly is an important aspect of bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology. DNA nanotechnology[edit] DNA nanotechnology is an area of current research that uses the bottom-up, self-assembly approach for nanotechnological goals. Two-dimensional monolayers[edit] The spontaneous assembly of a single layer of molecules at interfaces is usually referred to as two-dimensional self-assembly. See also[edit] References[edit]
Thigmonasty Mimosa pudica in normal and touched state. Thigmonasty or seismonasty is the nastic response of a plant or fungus to touch or vibration.[citation needed] Thigmonasty is especially prevalent in the mimosa genus. Thigmonasty differs from thigmotropism in that it is independent of the direction of the stimulus. For example, tendrils from a climbing plant are thigmotropic because they twine around any support they touch. However, the shutting of a venus fly trap is thigmonastic. Species[edit] The most spectacular display of thigmonasty occurs in the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). Legumes[edit] Pulvinus in extended and contracted position Many other members of the legume order display the same talent of rapid leaf closure motion in response to touch. Sensitive leaves also occur in plants of the sorrel family. Other forms[edit] A different form of thigmonasty than leaf closure occurs in thistle. Some fungi exhibit trap closure similar to the venus fly trap. See also[edit] References[edit]