Modelling cocoon spinning: an agent-based computational approach

An agent-based modelling (ABM) approach is proposed which allows for simulating the spinning of cocoon structures based on a set of behaviours abstracted from theBombyx morisilkworm. ABMs are aimed at the simulation and modelling of autonomous agents which can interact with their environment based on a set of behaviours and boundary conditions. While previous computational approaches address mainly the simulation of tracking data gathered from the silkworm itself, the suggested ABM approaches uses already established data as input for a computational model generation. In biology, such an agent-based framework can support the inverse understanding of patterns occurring in biological systems. It can also serve as an interface for biological materials science and architectural design by allowing the translation of biological processes into algorithmic procedures for architecture-scale structures. The proposed project is thus situated at the intersection of biological materials science and computational design. The current state of research on the spinning behaviour of the silkwormBombyx moriis covered in literature. This is taken as a starting point to extract the motion patterns which are then translated into an ABM in a parametric modelling environment using a custom-written ABM framework. Two different ABM approaches are developed: one which simulates the trajectory of the silk-filament as it is laid by the silkworm and one which simulates the enclosed volume and its articulation through the movement trajectories. Comparison with the biological system shows that with a simple set of behaviours both models can create cocoon architectures similar to the biological model system. Meanwhile they allow direct, adaptive transfer into design and construction processes. Conversely, they open up the possibility to infer relations between spinning behaviour, structural organisation and functional properties. As an outlook, applications of the proposed ABMs in biomaterials science as well as architecture are discussed.