Computational Design Process Inspired by Evolution

Innovation: Academia

Technical University of Denmark

2017

Image: Rishi Ragunathan / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Optimize Shape/Materials

Resources are limited and the simple act of retaining them requires resources, especially energy. Living systems must constantly balance the value of resources obtained with the costs of resources expended; failure to do so can result in death or prevent reproduction. Living systems therefore optimize, rather than maximize, resource use. Optimizing shape ultimately optimizes materials and energy. An example of such optimization can be seen in the dolphin’s body shape. It’s streamlined to reduce drag in the water due to an optimal ratio of length to diameter, as well as features on its surface that lie flat, reducing turbulence.

Search this Function

Learn

Living systems obtain information from their environment and use it to find mates and resources, and to escape threats. Some reactions to gathered information are instinctual or innate behaviors, not based on previous experiences. But other reactions are based on previous experiences, which means that, at some level, the living system is learning. Learning can involve a living system passing information to another living system, or a living system obtaining information and using it in a feedback loop. That information can include knowledge, experience, behavior, and skills. Learning takes place when information that is new to the recipient is used to modify existing behavior or skills. The making and use of tools by some species of birds and mammals is a learned behavior. If a chimpanzee uses a stick to successfully get ants out of an ant mound and continues to do so, it has learned that behavior. If another chimpanzee observes this technique and replicates it, it has learned from the first chimp.

Search this Function

Compute

Computation allows an organism to take in and process information to make decisions. Whether it be calculating how fast prey is moving or deciding where to build a nest, computation is an important part of an organism’s life.

Search this Function

Design process from Technical University of Denmark uses an iterative process called computational morphogenesis to optimize structural shape and material usage.

Benefits

Efficient
Reduced costs
Reduced waste

Applications

Bridge and building design
Consumer goods
Aerospace
Aviation

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 9: Industry Innovation & Infrastructure
Goal 12: Responsible Production & Consumption

The Challenge

Sustainable design involves optimizing the performance of products while minimizing the consumption of energy and resources. An important concern in the design process, especially in industrial and mechanical design, is material distribution. Traditional design methods may not optimize a product’s shape, prompting designers to use more material than needed. However, new AI technologies have created opportunities to explore different, more effective design options.

Innovation Details

This computer-aided design tool uses giga-voxel resolution computational morphogenesis to solve design problems. The computer is programmed with complex mathematical formulas that assign design rules and variables to many discreet points within the structure. The computer runs through an iterative process in which structural analyses optimize the amount and location of material being used. The overall process creates designs for products and structures with optimized material distribution, potentially reducing resource consumption, emissions, and project costs.

Biomimicry Story

Computational morphogenesis parallels plant and animal evolution. Distribution ratios of strength to weight, or capacity to efficiency, help ensure that plants and animals make effective use of resources, keeping them alive. Evolution is nature’s design process; nature tests, adapts, and repeats to refine systems to operate most efficiently.

References

Journal article

Giga-voxel computational morphogenesis for structural design

Letter

embedly preview

AskNature