growth and development

This video simulates the growth of the natural hives (vertical development and honeycombs are nearly parallel).

In this case 3 systems grow simultaneously and each agent deposits a simple cubic structure, composed by particle and springs that works as an attractor for the other agents. The deformation caused by gravity occurs in real time, so that each agent has to interact with a structure already stable.

For each frame they are also added new agents that have the purpose of connecting different structures according to their distance and to the deformations to which they are subjected.

Self-standing in realtime simulation (like honeybee) from Roberto Monesi on Vimeo.

This video shows the same system, but the deposit starts from several points simultaneously (30 in this specific case). This allows greater variation in the resulting structures (areas with different stiffness) and greater differentiation of spaces. There is also more interaction between the agents and the material deposited.

stigmergy behaviors for self-standing architecture from Roberto Monesi on Vimeo.

Some of the results obtained with the same system

bees at work

Stigmergy in self-standing architecture from Roberto Monesi on Vimeo.

This video is the synthesis of the first step. Each agent during his trip deposits a small cell composed by springs and particles. The finite space for the simulation is characterized by repellers and vectorfield. These features and the stigmergy behaviors generate the structure. When each system reaches its maximum dimension structure stabilizes under the effect of gravity and subsequent agents interacting with it.