An Application of Swarm Robotics in Architectural Design

This paper examines the potential of applying swarm intelligence concepts onto the design of architecture, and in particular transformable structures. Recently, swarm intelligence concepts have inspired research for the design and implementation of collective robotic systems as well as transformable flexible buildings. I argue that the latter exhibit limited capabilities for flexibility, both functional and physical, contrary to the architects’ initial intentions, whereas swarm based robotics present a more promising future for technological swarm applications. Based on these arguments, a concept for a transformable environment, called Swarm-Roof , is proposed and described, drawing from swarm robotics technologies and ideas. Keywords: swarm intelligence, swarm robotics, transformable architecture Introduction Swarm intelligence focuses on the collective behaviors of interacting natural or artificial individual entities that can self-organize and co-ordinate themselves using decentralized control based on simple behavioral rules [1]. Examples of swarm intelligence systems include ant colonies, schools of fish, flocks of birds, herds of land animals as well as human artifacts like multi-robot systems (robot swarms), and also certain computer simulations and programs written to tackle optimization and data analysis problems [1]. Swarms have been used for the study and simulation of the collective behavior of interacting individuals (not only biological) but also in social (human crowds), economic (market), or traffic systems [2].