M - Cell Assembly

In this thesis I propose a selfassembly procedure called the Morphocell(M-Cell) assembly. This procedure is based on an assembly unit called the M-Cell. The M-Cell is comprised out of two components, the M-Block and the M-Clay (in which the M-Block is embedded). During the assembly procedure the M-Clay acts as the environment of the assembly for the M-Blocks. This allows a global, parallel assembly that is highly autonomous and has large error correcting capacities. When the assembly procedure is complete the M-Blocks have assembled into a spatial lattice. Then the M-Clay surrounds this lattice thus creating a solid object, the M-Object. The MObject, which is the goal of this procedure, is a dynamic object that can be easily modified, expanded or dismantled. Furthermore, it can respond in various ways to its environment. This system was optimized though a feedback loop that was informed by constant digital and physical simulations. The findings of this thesis can have important applications in construction of structures in extreme-remote environments and in the fabrication-rapid prototyping field. Thesis Advisor: Terry Knight Title: Professor of Design and Computation Thesis Advisor: Skylar Tibbits Title: Research Scientist, Department of Architecture