Forest Spirits

Beijing, China

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Forest Spirits

Beijing, China

Type

Cultural ›

YEAR

2010

“Forest Spirits” is the name given to a unique collection of responsive and interactive artificial entities designed and created by HHD_FUN Architects, Beijing. The installation aims to explore the notion of unintentional and unknown effects which the presence of humans has on the natural world and ecosystems of planet Earth. The intention is not necessarily to highlight the damage done by humans, but to attract attention to how easy it is to influence dynamic situations, which may be in a delicate state of balance.Swarm intelligence, based on the collective behavior of decentralized and self-organizing systems, was used as a muse for “Forest Spirits”. With collaboration and technical research from the Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Nankai University, it was made possible to model the system with swarm intelligence and the resulting emergent behavior, producing a set of 50 sensitive and environmentally responsive “Spirits”, within an interconnected network.Each entity appears to be isolated and distinct yet collectively it is part of a complex system, formed using wireless technology and digitally generated algorithmic DNA language.A Spirit continuously reacts to its immediate surroundings, covertly collecting, analyzing and exchanging its environmental data with neighboring Spirits. This constructs a collective understanding of the overall context, which in turn will determine if the Spirits are in a state of balance- exhibiting synchronized behavior, or out of balance – exhibiting more random and chaotic behavior. The collective intelligence of the Swarm emerges in a decentralized way, resulting from the actions of individuals responding to local environment stimuli and importantly, from other members of the swarm. There is no central processor issuing commands, instead the composition behaves as a horizontally-organized network.“Forest Spirits” was situated and exhibited in the woodland area within Beijing’s DiTan park, in August 2010.The shapes of each Spirit was designed bio-mimetically, mimicking the angles found on bamboo plants, therefore producing a family of these artificial species. This allows each entity to sit and be fixed straight or inclined, to a branch perfectly, providing the advantage of integration and camouflage, which is further achieved by the use of a translucent material. The Spirits are positioned within the forest in a manner inspired by Biological Clustering Intelligence.There are 5 components of which the Spirits are comprised of; 3 parallel L.E.D lights caged within laser cut translucent acrylics, a sensor, a processor, wireless node, and individual rechargeable batteries as their power source.Each sensor is able to detect movement within a 7m radius.When sufficient input is detected (10 movements), the signal is forwarded to the Spirit’s processor.The collection of sensors form one fifth of the swarm, yet are able to identify movements occurring within the whole area occupied. The information is passed on, by the creation of a unique algorithmic DNA created independently by the processor attached to that specific Spirit. This will then be passed onto the other 49 members of the swarm through the wireless node, and thus their processors, forming the beginning of one chain of events. The nature of the DNA made will determine how effective and successful the ripple through the system will be. As when the DNA is sent out, it will be sent to all of the Spirits, yet each Spirit is capable of choosing whether or not to react to that specific type of DNA received, based on its own state and conditionThe system is able to continuously update, using self learning algorithms, the knowledge about its own configuration, as well as that of the environment.As the individual ‘Spirits’ experience changes in their environment, and collect and communicate information, the systematic organizational structure will grow and evolve. When a balance point is reached within the system-wide structure, its emergent behavior is exhibited clearly. These artificial entities are capable of withstanding internal as well as external conditions, transforming from Forest Spirits to what could be Office Spirits.“Forest Spirits” have the ability to react to spectators and further interact within their own artificial intelligence, creating a digital visual atmosphere and playground, drawing spectators in and allowing them to experience the complexities of these biological and social systems.