Archi/e Machina
2009
Introduction
The musculoskeletal structure is significantly similar to the tensegrity structure used in architecture. Tensegrity consists of tension and compression elements. We developed a tensegrity dome by replacing tension elements with pneumatic muscles (Fig.1). In contrast to conventional static architecture, the form of robotic tensegrity can dynamically change response to movements of a human within its space.
Fig.1 Archi/e Machina: a robotic architecture
Design
Basic Structure
The structure of the Archi/e Machina is based on the tensegrity dome with 21 floating rods and 84 tension wires. The 12 wires out of 84 are replaced by artificial pneumatic muscles. Therefore, the structure get the ability to change the form. We tried two sizes of strucure: small dome with rods length of 1.5m for one-person use, and large dome with rods length of 3.0m. The system uses mirophone array and inflared sensors to detect the human motions.
Fig.2 Illustration of the tensegrity dome consists of rods, wires, and artificial muscles. The blue lines and orange lines among rods represent wires and artificial muscles, respectively.
Fig.3 Connections of the components.
Exhibition
The Archi/e Machina was presented to the public. Several visitors report the feeling of the extension of their body image when they enter in the structure and control it. Moreover, the visitor found that the Archi/e Machina has an animacy, the feature correlated with living things.
Fig.? Overhead view of the Archi/e Machina
Fig.? Play with Archi/e Machina
References
Contribution
The original concept of this project is conceived by Yosuke Ushigome as an archetype of biotic architecture. Prototyping, design, and fabrication are performed by Yosuke Ushigome and Ryuma Niiyama.
Papers
Archi/e Machina: Interactive Architecture Based on Tensegrity
In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia (VRMM 2010), pp.55–62, Seoul, Korea, Oct. 2010.
BibTeX
@INPROCEEDINGS{UshigomeNiiyama2010_VRMM2010_Archi-e-Machina,
author = {Ushigome, Yosuke and Niiyama, Ryuma and Nishimura, Kunihiro and Tanikawa, Tomohiro and Hirose, Michitaka},
title = {Archi/e Machina: Interactive Architecture Based on Tensegrity},
booktitle = {Proc. 16th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia ({VRMM 2010})},
year = {2010},
pages = {55--62},
address = {Seoul, Korea},
month = {Oct.},
}
Exhibitions
Archi/e Machina
Cyber Arts Japan: Ars Electronica - 30 years for Art and Media Technology, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 2010.