Transition/Interval

https://mfile.umich.edu/?path=/afs/umich.edu/user/i/v/ivruiz/Public/html/Studio_LAX/transition-interval2.6.gct

https://mfile.umich.edu/?path=/afs/umich.edu/user/i/v/ivruiz/Public/html/Studio_LAX/GC.ShadeFlatCut.dll

Transition/Interval – part2

In the attempt to control GC and not the other way around…here is a subsequent version of my transition/interval project.

Transition/Interval

Transition space from the airport terminal through the gate and into the airplane.  The aim was to create 3 flows (representing various groups of people) moving from the open space of the terminal, merging as one when handing out their ticket and breaking up again as they go through the gate.  As they entered the plane all three flows organize themselves as one in order to sit down.

In this first scheme I was able to interconnect the flows and create them as dependencies of each others movement. However, I would like the surfaces to move from a more random (chaotic pattern) at the airport terminal into a more organized string of elements inside the plane, making the transition more apparent. I would also like to create a parent element that could control all three flows at the terminal.  For example, if this parent element were to approximate to the gate check point, all three flows would move towards the check point and bunch together (right now the flows are interconnected in the Y direction but not in the X).

Oh sweet technology!

Free form roof – Tutorial 2

The goal is to create a freeform roof following a spatially curved path in a landscape. The landscape is represented using only four top level control points. The example demonstrates how robust hierarchical parametric modeling can give an easy to manipulate model with complex geometric Features downstream and aesthetically interesting geometric responses.

Several turorials done… much more work to crack down!

Winged and Furry… !

The cerogenes auricoma, the “chicken bug”, is part of the family of Fulgorid Planthoppers.  With no common name, the latin translation of its scientific name is “wax producer with golden hair”.  Apparently native Indians of the region use the yellow wax on the head and thorax of this insect to make a dye.

They fly in swarms very slowly and gracefully, making them seem like they are floating.  Their size range from 1/4″ to 4″ . They generally have fore-wing cryptic in a shade of opaque brown, and they pose on tree trunks or shrubs.  As protective coloration they show red, orange or yellow at the base of the hind wings and have stains in the form of eyes.  Their feather-like wax structures on the abdomen serve as protection against predators, working as camouflage resembling the common tree moss of the region.

Swarming bots

Swarm-bots

Each s-bot is a fully autonomous mobile robot capable of performing basic tasks such as autonomous navigation, perception of its surrounding environment, and grasping of objects. A s-bot is also able to communicate with other peer units and physically join either rigidly or flexibly to them, thus forming a swarm-bot. A swarm-bot is supposed to be capable of performing exploration, navigation and transportation of heavy objects on very rough terrains, especially when a single s-bot has major problems at achieving the task alone. The hardware structure is combined with a distributed adaptive control architecture inspired upon ant colony behaviours.

Using rigid and flexible connections, s-bots can form a swarm-bot having 1D or 2D structures. These structures can bend and take 3D shapes.  Potential application of this type of swarm robotics are, for instance, semi-automatic space exploration, search for rescue or underwater exploration.

http://www.swarm-bots.org/index.php?main=3&sub=31&conpage=s

Symbrion

The main focus lies within the SYMBRION project consists in the investigation and development of novel principles of adaptation and evolution for symbiotic multi-robot organisms based on bio-inspired approaches and modern computing paradigms. When it is advantageous to do so, these swarm robots can dynamically aggregate into one or many symbiotic organisms and collectively interact with the physical world via a variety of sensors and actuators. The bio-inspired evolutionary paradigms combined with robot embodiment and swarm-emergent phenomena, enable the organisms to autonomously manage their own hardware and software organization. In this way, artificial robotic organisms become self-configuring, self-healing, self-optimizing and self-protecting from both hardware and software perspectives. This leads not only to extremely adaptive, evolve-able and scalable robotic systems, but also enables robot organisms to reprogram themselves without human supervision and for new, previously unforeseen, functionality to emerge. In addition, different symbiotic organisms may co-evolve and cooperate with each other and with their environment.

http://www.ipvs.uni-stuttgart.de/abteilungen/bv/lehre/studentische_arbeiten/studienarbeiten/MasterTh_Collective_Robotics/de

Some weird winged insects!

Otiocerus Leaf-Hoppers

Otiocerus means “ridiculously superfluous”. This leaf-hoppers attack a wide range of trees, shrubs and grasses. However, the nymphs and adults frequently suck the sap of only one or a few kinds of plants. Besides stunting plant growth by causing loss of sap, some leaf-hoppers introduce a toxin into the plant as they feed; others introduce disease organisms.  The thickened part of the antennae is very short and ends with a bristle and are divided into two filaments, which are twisted into weird shapes; it has two simple eyes present on the front of the head; and a suction tube at the bottom. The nymphs feed on fungi while adults live by sucking sap. Many adults are recognizable by their habit of holding up their wings.

Robber Flies

Robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face, and 3 simple eyes in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes ( eyes are built of many light-sensitive elements, each with its own refractive system and forming a portion of an image). The mystax helps protect the head and face. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis. Robber flies are opportunistic predators, their diets often reflecting prey availability in a particular habitat. They are impressive predators that typically specialize in flying insects, including wasps, bees, and dragonflies; the prey may be larger than the robber fly itself. Most robber flies frequent sunny, open areas and are active during the warmest parts of the day and year. They perch on branches, logs, stones, or the ground, and rush out to attack when suitable prey flies by.

Simple Roof – Generative Components Tutorial 1

Simple courtyard roof over a tree – Generative Components Tutorial 1