Implementation of cellular automata for dynamic shading of building façade

Abstract

Paperpresentscreative use of cellularautomata(CA) in architecture, namely fordynamicshading of building facade. The abbreviation "CA" refers both to singular form "cellular automaton" and plural- "automata". One of the most interesting "visual" quality of CA is abilty to create organic patterns which sometimes are very pleasing to human eye. These patterns seem to "live their own life" and "taming" them to perform purposeful actions is quiet challenging due to their computational irreducibility as shown in an example of possible practical application, but as a result, provides visual effects of unmatched intriguing complexity hard to achieve by means of artistic will, whim or chance. Although amazing qualities of CA astonish for many years, their practical (physical) applications are still very sparse if existing at all, besides "pretty pictures". Four classes of CA "behavior" with conjunction to the problem of "pattern average grayness" was presented. Two classes of CA were analyzed: 2- color, 1- dimension, range- 1 (2C-1D-R1) and 2-color, 1- dimension, range- 2 (2C-1D-R2) for potential practical use. Problem of monotonic gradual change of average grayness as a function of sequence of initial conditions was discussed. Scheme of mechanical system realizing the idea of shading controlled by CA was proposed.