Generally, spontaneous pattern formation phenomena are random and
repetitive, whereas elaborate devices are the deterministic product of
human design.
Yet, biological organisms and collective insect constructions are
exceptional examples of complex systems that are both self-organized and
architectural.
This book is the first initiative of its kind toward establishing a new
field of research, Morphogenetic Engineering, to explore the modeling
and implementation of "self-architecturing" systems. Particular emphasis
is placed on the programmability and computational abilities of
self-organization, properties that are often underappreciated in complex
systems science--while, conversely, the benefits of self-organization
are often underappreciated in engineering methodologies.
Altogether, the aim of this work is to provide a framework for and
examples of a larger class of "self-architecturing" systems, while
addressing fundamental questions such as
> How do biological organisms carry out morphogenetic tasks so
reliably?
> Can we extrapolate their self-formation capabilities to engineered
systems?
> Can physical systems be endowed with information (or informational
systems be embedded in physics) so as to create autonomous morphologies
and functions?
> What are the core principles and best practices for the design and
engineering of such morphogenetic systems?
The intended audience consists of researchers and graduate students who
are working on, starting to work on, or interested in programmable
self-organizing systems in a wide range of scientific fields, including
computer science, robotics, bioengineering, control engineering,
physics, theoretical biology, mathematics, and many others.
