EAGER: A DNA-Based, Cellar and Self-Organizing Approach to Adaptive System Development

这一奖项的研究目标是开发一种基于合成DNA的、细胞的和自组织的框架，用于概念化和设计适应性系统。这代表了自适应系统开发的一种新的设计方法。这种系统在太空探索、在危险情况下执行任务以及延长工程系统的实用性和寿命方面都是必要的。遵循自然界生物合成形成生物系统的方法，这项研究将开发一种基于DNA的产品表示法，将生物概念和过程映射到机械产品和过程中。它还将研究基于DNA的细胞系统配置设计和基于自组织的构建机制。将进行基于计算机模拟的案例研究，以验证和演示新方法的有效性。这项研究将为设计复杂和适应性工程系统的变革性方法提供见解和研究计划。如果成功，本研究结果将为将生物启发的系统设计和构建过程应用于适应性系统开发提供见解和初步设计方法。这项研究有可能开辟一个新的设计研究领域，利用生物学、复杂性和复杂系统的知识。使用这项研究的结果方法开发的适应性系统将通过消除人类卷入遥不可及的危险情况的需要，大大提高人类进入更深的空间和海洋的探索能力。从这项研究中获得的知识将纳入讲习班和设计课程。来自代表性不足群体的研究生将参与其中。将举行研究开放日，供K-12学生参加。通过这项研究开发的结果、方法和工具将提供给研究界用于未来的探索。

The research objective of this EAGER award is to develop a synthetic DNA based, cellular and self-organizing framework for conceptualizing and designing adaptive systems. This represents a new design methodology for adaptive systems development. Such systems are needed in space exploration, performing tasks in hazardous situations, and for extending utility and lifetime of engineered systems. Following nature's biological synthesis approach to the formation of biological systems, this research will develop a DNA based product representation that maps biological concepts and processes into mechanical products and processes. It will also investigate DNA based cellular system configuration design and self-organizing based construction mechanisms. Computer simulation based case studies will be carried out to verify and demonstrate the effectiveness of the new methodology. The research will result in insights and a research program for a transformative approach to designing complex and adaptive engineered systems.If successful, the results of this research will provide insights and initial design methods for applying a biology inspired system design and construction process to adaptive systems development. The research has the potential of opening a new field of design research that takes advantage of the knowledge of biology, complexity and complex systems. The adaptive systems developed using the resulting methodology of this research will significantly enhance human being's exploration capability to reach deeper spaces and oceans by eliminating the needs for having human beings involved in unreachable and dangerous situations. The knowledge gained from this research will be incorporated in workshops and design curricula. Graduate students from underrepresented groups will be involved. A research open house will be held for K-12 students to participate. The results, methods, and tools developed through this research will be available to the research community for future explorations.