Modular design of complex tensegrity structures

Number: 9703897
Published: 2017-07-11
Filed: 2014-07-14
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Bickel; Bernd, Mani; Sandro, Thomaszewski; Bernhard, Coros; Stelian
CPC: G06F30/00; G06F30/20
Verdict: Medium Notable software
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

A design tool that lets users assemble virtual building blocks into a complex tensegrity structure for physical fabrication.

Abstract

There is provided a tensegrity design system and a method for use in designing a complex tensegrity structure. In one implementation, such a method includes providing virtual building blocks selectable by a user for assembly of a desired tensegrity structure, receive user-selected building blocks from among the plurality of virtual building blocks from the user, and identifying connections among the user-selected building blocks based on user inputs to the tensegrity design system. The method also includes determining a network of forces for stabilizing a tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure, based on the user-selected building blocks and their connections, and generating a simulation of thetensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure for display to theuser.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary tensegrity design system configured to perform modular design of complextensegrity structures, according to one implementation;(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary design terminal and a computer-readable medium including instructions enabling modular design of complex tensegrity structures, according to one implementation;(3) FIG. 3 is a flowchart presenting an exemplary method for use by a tensegrity design system to perform modular design of complex tensegrity structures, according to one implementation;(4) FIG. 4A showsexemplary building blocks for use in performing modular design of a complex tensegrity structure, according to one implementation;(5) FIG. 4B depicts an intermediate stage of the exemplary method outlined in FIG. 3, according to one implementation;(6) FIG. 4C shows exemplary connection types for use in joining the exemplary building blocks shown in FIG. 4A;and(7) FIG. 4D depicts an exemplary complex tensegrity structure simulation generated by a tensegrity design system configured to perform modular design of complex tensegrity structures, according to one implementation.DETAILED DESCRIPTION(8) The following description contains specific information pertaining to implementations in the present disclosure. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed herein. The drawings in the present applicati

Claims

1. A method for use by a tensegrity design system including a processor,the method comprising: providing, using the processor, a plurality of virtual building blocks selectable by a user for assembly of a desired tensegrity structure; receiving, usingthe processor, user-selected building blocks from among the plurality of virtual buildingblocks from the user; identifying, using the processor, connections among the user-selected building blocks, based on user inputs to the tensegrity design system; determining, using the processor, a network of forces for stabilizing a tensegrity structure correspondingto the desired tensegrity structure, based on the user-selected building blocks and the connections; and generating, using the processor, a simulation of the tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure for display to the user. 10. A tensegrity design system comprising: a processor and a memory; a tensegrity design engine stored inthe memory, the tensegrity design engine, under control of the processor, configured to: provide a plurality of virtual building blocks selectable by a user for assembly of a desired tensegrity structure; receive user-selected building blocks from among the plurality of virtual building blocks from the user; identify connections among the user-selected building blocks, based on user inputs to the tensegrity design system; determine a network of forces for stabilizing a tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure, based on the user-selected building blocks and the connections; and generate a simulation of the tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure for display to the user. 19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, instantiate a tensegrity design engine configured to: provide a plurality of virtual building blocks selectable by a user for assembly of a desiredtensegrity structure; receive user-selected building blocks from among the plurality of virtual building blocks from the user; identify connections among the user-selected building blocks, based on user inputs to the tensegrity design system; determine a network of forces for stabilizing a tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure, based on the user-selected building blocks and the connections; and generate a simulation of the tensegrity structure corresponding to the desired tensegrity structure for display to the user.