Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
it's cuz he's got tensegrity
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"The concept of tensegrity was first realized by the sculptor Kenneth Snelson, who began constructing structures in 1948 and showed them to Buckminster Fuller. The term "tensegrity" was coined from the phrase "tensional integrity" by Fuller, who proposed that the method could be applied to large architectural domes. However, the flexibility of the result is not suitable for most space-enclosing purposes, and has found much more interesting application in sculpture."
Fuller did construct one, meant to function as a broadcast antenna tower.
Years ago I constructed and photorealistically rendered a 3D model of a tensegrity tower using AutoCad and Accurender. It was replete with eyes at the ends of the rigid elements, cable clamps and threaded turnbuckles.
I printed out several views and it was a kick showing them around the office to the engineers, some of whom had never heard of Bucky Fuller.
Some of them would frown, studying a view and muttering, Wait a minute, that can't work, while trying to figure out how 'that can't work'.
Several of them said, That's an optical illusion. Then I'd show them the other views. Some would figure it out and say, That is really cool! Some would give it a blank look, then just walk away. You know how some engineers are.
