Beyond Kinetic			2001/03/04		: updated
			Michael A. Fox		mafox@mit.edu
Kinetic Design Group
Department of Architecture, Design Technology Room 10-461M
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA 02139, USA			+1 617 252-1866		: telephone
			+1 310 943-26097		: fax
	Abstract. This research develops a foundation for the application of embedded computation as a means to enhancing the performance of kinetic systems in architecture. The motivation lies in creating spaces and objects that can physically re-configure themselves to meet changing needs. The paper is focused on responsive spatial adaptability and also explores multi-use applications and automated kinetic response with respect to changing environmental conditions. The research illustrates six typological means of controlling kinetic motion in architecture from simple biometric control to high-level self-learning control. We demonstrate how high level kinetic systems can integrate a heuristic or learning capacity into the control mechanism. Such systems can learn through successful experiential adaptation to optimize a kinetic system or spatial form of an environment in response to change. When we look at the high levels of computer controlled kinetic systems behaviors an interesting phenomenon can also be observed with respect to actual physical built form. What we are describing is a structure as a mechanistic machine that is controlled by a separate non-mechanistic machine: the computer. The result is similar to creating a building like a body with a system of bones and muscles and tendons and augmenting that body with a brain that knows how to respond. In numerous applications then, much of the structure can be reduced through the ability of a singular system to facilitate multi-uses via transformative adaptability. The paper highlights several built examples by the author of kinetic systems with embedded computational intelligence and builds upon this precedent through identifying applications of both transformable kinetic objects occupying predefined physical space as well as how moving physical objects can share a common physical space to create adaptable spatial configurations.
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			English		: Language
			Transportable Environments		: Conference
			Technology		: Category
Keywords. Kinetic Design, Future Architecture, Robotics, Responsive Architecture.					: Keywords
Conference Proceedings: Book Info TBA:					: Publication
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