TENSEGRITY WALL

After a long time coming, I finally decided to continue my research on actuated tensegrity systems.  I had already created a fully rigged tensegrity module whose compression member's rotation was driven by the distance from the apex of the system to the midpoint.  This distance was wired to a slider in the 3D Max file, so the user can easily drive the system by the use of one simple device.  However, to complicate matters a little bit, I decided it would be more interesting to rig these modules up into a system, or a wall type structure where all the modules were connected and thus getting more displacement out of the design.  Through a little more math and a lot more time, I was able to create a 4x4 wall system that is fully controlled by the same slider that controls the vertical movement of an actuator inserted in the middle of each module (which would ultimately control the distance from the apex to the midpoint).  This system could be configured to work with a sensor so that the structure could change shape according to various environmental stimuli. 

Download Tensegrity Wall.zip

Note: This software and its documents are in the public domain and are furnished "as is". The author, Andrew Payne, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the usefulness of the software and documentation for any purpose. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/

ADAPTIVE TENSEGRITY

This is a digital model that I created after reading Tristan d'Estree Sterk's essay on actuated tensegrity systems.  I've rigged the system to work just like his actuated tensegrity system, so that as the actuator in the middle contracts, the tension members become more rigid, thus making the entire system stronger.  The actuated system is one way to create a responsive tensegrity system that can adapt to changing environmental conditions to make a "learning" structure... however you could eliminate the actuator by making the tension members able to expand and contract, much like a muscle.  I plan on pursuing this line of thought for a future skyscraper, but as yet, is still in a hypothetical stage.  

Download Tensegrity Module.zip

Note: This software and its documents are in the public domain and are furnished "as is".  The author, Andrew Payne, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the usefulness of the software and documentation for any purpose.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ 

TENSEGRITY TOWER

Who knew you could have so much fun with a few wood dowels and a little elastic cord.  I created this as a first attempt to figure out how exactly tensegrity structures get assembled and "tuned" via adjusting the elastic cords so that each tension member has the same amount of tension as the others, thus keeping the structure at equilibrium.  My next response will hopefully incorporate a responsive system by making the elastic cords out of electropieziolastic materials so that each member can contract or expand via electrical current, thus having a tensegrity system that could adapt to different situations.