I’m going to take you far far away and we will talk about my latest research
we will talk about my latest research
we will talk about my latest research which is dealing with as you just heard
which is dealing with as you just heard
which is dealing with as you just heard with deep space what you see here is the
with deep space what you see here is the
with deep space what you see here is the first patented spaceship in history it
first patented spaceship in history it
first patented spaceship in history it was designed and as you can see in 1901
was designed and as you can see in 1901
was designed and as you can see in 1901 by Frederick Thompson it was actually an
by Frederick Thompson it was actually an
by Frederick Thompson it was actually an electrically powered mechanical bark
electrically powered mechanical bark
electrically powered mechanical bark right which was developed for the
right which was developed for the
right which was developed for the pan-american Exhibition in Buffalo New
pan-american Exhibition in Buffalo New
pan-american Exhibition in Buffalo New York
York
York it was a multimedia moon simulation a
it was a multimedia moon simulation a
it was a multimedia moon simulation a trip to the moon people would enter a
trip to the moon people would enter a
trip to the moon people would enter a large building they would take place in
large building they would take place in
large building they would take place in this spaceship that was actually built
this spaceship that was actually built
this spaceship that was actually built and then through all kinds of devices
and then through all kinds of devices
and then through all kinds of devices for example flapping wings earth was
for example flapping wings earth was
for example flapping wings earth was painted on a canvas and then with using
painted on a canvas and then with using
painted on a canvas and then with using pulleys the earth would receive the
pulleys the earth would receive the
pulleys the earth would receive the spaceship would leave earth would fly
spaceship would leave earth would fly
spaceship would leave earth would fly through space and would actually land on
through space and would actually land on
through space and would actually land on the moon then the visitors would be
the moon then the visitors would be
the moon then the visitors would be allowed to get up the spaceship they
allowed to get up the spaceship they
allowed to get up the spaceship they would enter a paper mache moon landscape
would enter a paper mache moon landscape
would enter a paper mache moon landscape they would be welcomed by dwarf actors
they would be welcomed by dwarf actors
they would be welcomed by dwarf actors with witness a show by the man on the
with witness a show by the man on the
with witness a show by the man on the moon and then the whole attraction would
moon and then the whole attraction would
moon and then the whole attraction would be over it was very successful actually
be over it was very successful actually
be over it was very successful actually 400,000 people visited this it was a
400,000 people visited this it was a
400,000 people visited this it was a huge ship and the designers actually
huge ship and the designers actually
huge ship and the designers actually after the exhibition moved it to Coney
after the exhibition moved it to Coney
after the exhibition moved it to Coney Island where they called it where it
Island where they called it where it
Island where they called it where it became part of the Luna Park because the
became part of the Luna Park because the
became part of the Luna Park because the spaceship was called Luna and that’s
spaceship was called Luna and that’s
spaceship was called Luna and that’s actually where the name Luna Park comes
actually where the name Luna Park comes
actually where the name Luna Park comes from why we’re talking about this why
from why we’re talking about this why
from why we’re talking about this why I’m introducing my talk about
I’m introducing my talk about
I’m introducing my talk about interstellar space with some
interstellar space with some
interstellar space with some construction from the 19th century well
construction from the 19th century well
construction from the 19th century well if you look at the design of this
if you look at the design of this
if you look at the design of this particular spaceship it’s very clear how
particular spaceship it’s very clear how
particular spaceship it’s very clear how difficult it is for our imagination to
difficult it is for our imagination to
difficult it is for our imagination to think in the future the design of this
think in the future the design of this
think in the future the design of this particular spaceship is very deeply
particular spaceship is very deeply
particular spaceship is very deeply rooted into its own time it reflects
rooted into its own time it reflects
rooted into its own time it reflects technologies from the day such as
technologies from the day such as
technologies from the day such as ornithopters airships and if we move
ornithopters airships and if we move
ornithopters airships and if we move further we can see that even in these
further we can see that even in these
further we can see that even in these examples are always deeply rooted in
examples are always deeply rooted in
examples are always deeply rooted in their own time you can see on the
their own time you can see on the
their own time you can see on the left-hand side the USS Enterprise Star
left-hand side the USS Enterprise Star
left-hand side the USS Enterprise Star Trek which is a typical symbol of the
Trek which is a typical symbol of the
Trek which is a typical symbol of the Space Age aerodynamic
Space Age aerodynamic
Space Age aerodynamic except you don’t really need
except you don’t really need
except you don’t really need aerodynamics and outer space it’s kind
aerodynamics and outer space it’s kind
aerodynamics and outer space it’s kind of vacuum there and then you have the
of vacuum there and then you have the
of vacuum there and then you have the beautiful star war designs and they’re
beautiful star war designs and they’re
beautiful star war designs and they’re very typically seventies angular designs
very typically seventies angular designs
very typically seventies angular designs now when we’re talking about going into
now when we’re talking about going into
now when we’re talking about going into interstellar space
interstellar space
interstellar space there is one particularly defining
there is one particularly defining
there is one particularly defining feature of a trip through deep space
feature of a trip through deep space
feature of a trip through deep space through interstellar space the space
through interstellar space the space
through interstellar space the space between stars it’s unpredictable this is
between stars it’s unpredictable this is
between stars it’s unpredictable this is in big contrast with what you can see
in big contrast with what you can see
in big contrast with what you can see here this is an image scheduled of the
here this is an image scheduled of the
here this is an image scheduled of the Apollo program this was taken care of in
Apollo program this was taken care of in
Apollo program this was taken care of in a very different way basically what they
a very different way basically what they
a very different way basically what they did is they they got closer and closer
did is they they got closer and closer
did is they they got closer and closer to the moon step-by-step charting and
to the moon step-by-step charting and
to the moon step-by-step charting and trying to understand all the different
trying to understand all the different
trying to understand all the different things that could go wrong kind of
things that could go wrong kind of
things that could go wrong kind of mapping all the contingencies and then
mapping all the contingencies and then
mapping all the contingencies and then finally they made a trip all the way
finally they made a trip all the way
finally they made a trip all the way down to the surface of the Moon that’s
down to the surface of the Moon that’s
down to the surface of the Moon that’s how most space exploration missions are
how most space exploration missions are
how most space exploration missions are being designed now when you go into deep
being designed now when you go into deep
being designed now when you go into deep space you cannot use this trick anymore
space you cannot use this trick anymore
space you cannot use this trick anymore it’s too far away far out and you can’t
it’s too far away far out and you can’t
it’s too far away far out and you can’t just go into deep space and then come
just go into deep space and then come
just go into deep space and then come back and tune a few things so you need a
back and tune a few things so you need a
back and tune a few things so you need a different approach there to Bay two ways
different approach there to Bay two ways
different approach there to Bay two ways you can handle this the first one is
you can handle this the first one is
you can handle this the first one is redundancy and redundancy is something
redundancy and redundancy is something
redundancy and redundancy is something that is used in this fantastic
that is used in this fantastic
that is used in this fantastic initiative which is called breakthrough
initiative which is called breakthrough
initiative which is called breakthrough starshot it was announced last year in
starshot it was announced last year in
starshot it was announced last year in April with the support of Mark
April with the support of Mark
April with the support of Mark Zuckerberg Stephen Hawking it’s the
Zuckerberg Stephen Hawking it’s the
Zuckerberg Stephen Hawking it’s the first interstellar mission that mankind
first interstellar mission that mankind
first interstellar mission that mankind is currently developing the very tiny
is currently developing the very tiny
is currently developing the very tiny spacecraft it’s an unmanned mission of
spacecraft it’s an unmanned mission of
spacecraft it’s an unmanned mission of obviously we’re not ready to send people
obviously we’re not ready to send people
obviously we’re not ready to send people to different stars they’re very the
to different stars they’re very the
to different stars they’re very the concept here is to send very tiny
concept here is to send very tiny
concept here is to send very tiny spacecraft probes to a different star
spacecraft probes to a different star
spacecraft probes to a different star using light sails and then beaming a
using light sails and then beaming a
using light sails and then beaming a very powerful laser from earth onto the
very powerful laser from earth onto the
very powerful laser from earth onto the sails accelerating the craft with a very
sails accelerating the craft with a very
sails accelerating the craft with a very to a very high speed let’s say 20% of
to a very high speed let’s say 20% of
to a very high speed let’s say 20% of the speed of light and then with this
the speed of light and then with this
the speed of light and then with this speed those craft could reach the
speed those craft could reach the
speed those craft could reach the nearest star in about 20 years which is
nearest star in about 20 years which is
nearest star in about 20 years which is not bad and the idea would be that when
not bad and the idea would be that when
not bad and the idea would be that when the craft passes the star it would be
the craft passes the star it would be
the craft passes the star it would be back photos to earth with the light of
back photos to earth with the light of
back photos to earth with the light of speech so basically in about 25 years we
speech so basically in about 25 years we
speech so basically in about 25 years we could have first images of a different
could have first images of a different
could have first images of a different star all the technologies are not in
star all the technologies are not in
star all the technologies are not in place yet but like I said they’re
place yet but like I said they’re
place yet but like I said they’re working on it and it’s an example of
working on it and it’s an example of
working on it and it’s an example of redundancy because what they’re planning
redundancy because what they’re planning
redundancy because what they’re planning to do is they planning to send out a
to do is they planning to send out a
to do is they planning to send out a swar
swar
swar of these many of these and hopefully one
of these many of these and hopefully one
of these many of these and hopefully one will arrive now there is another
will arrive now there is another
will arrive now there is another approach and the other approach is
approach and the other approach is
approach and the other approach is something that was that came up to me
something that was that came up to me
something that was that came up to me when I was looking at this this is a
when I was looking at this this is a
when I was looking at this this is a robot without a particular fixed body
robot without a particular fixed body
robot without a particular fixed body foam bought from developed at University
foam bought from developed at University
foam bought from developed at University of Pennsylvania a few years ago and what
of Pennsylvania a few years ago and what
of Pennsylvania a few years ago and what you can see here is actually a robot
you can see here is actually a robot
you can see here is actually a robot that actually when it’s encountering a
that actually when it’s encountering a
that actually when it’s encountering a particular physical challenges challenge
particular physical challenges challenge
particular physical challenges challenge it calculates the physical body it needs
it calculates the physical body it needs
it calculates the physical body it needs to overcome that challenge it will
to overcome that challenge it will
to overcome that challenge it will distribute that its joints that hat it
distribute that its joints that hat it
distribute that its joints that hat it has at its disposal on the floor it will
has at its disposal on the floor it will
has at its disposal on the floor it will connect a joint using Bully urethane
connect a joint using Bully urethane
connect a joint using Bully urethane foam to create a body on the fly it will
foam to create a body on the fly it will
foam to create a body on the fly it will then calculate a movement scheme to move
then calculate a movement scheme to move
then calculate a movement scheme to move the body and it will overcome the
the body and it will overcome the
the body and it will overcome the obstacle which I thought it was
obstacle which I thought it was
obstacle which I thought it was incredibly cool this is not even a
incredibly cool this is not even a
incredibly cool this is not even a polymorphic robot you know like
polymorphic robot you know like
polymorphic robot you know like transformers robots which have a few
transformers robots which have a few
transformers robots which have a few configurations this is really a robot I
configurations this is really a robot I
configurations this is really a robot I can take any shape and this gave me the
can take any shape and this gave me the
can take any shape and this gave me the idea to start thinking about developing
idea to start thinking about developing
idea to start thinking about developing starships that actually evolved over
starships that actually evolved over
starships that actually evolved over time that can reshape themselves or code
time that can reshape themselves or code
time that can reshape themselves or code during the journey a code according to
during the journey a code according to
during the journey a code according to the different needs of of what’s
the different needs of of what’s
the different needs of of what’s happening around them and also the
happening around them and also the
happening around them and also the different things that are changing
different things that are changing
different things that are changing inside the spaceship which I will
inside the spaceship which I will
inside the spaceship which I will explain in a bit I’m actually not an
explain in a bit I’m actually not an
explain in a bit I’m actually not an aerospace engineer I’m a biologist as
aerospace engineer I’m a biologist as
aerospace engineer I’m a biologist as you as you could just hear and only
you as you could just hear and only
you as you could just hear and only recently I’ve jumped into the field of
recently I’ve jumped into the field of
recently I’ve jumped into the field of space systems and my original biological
space systems and my original biological
space systems and my original biological research was deformities of the teeth of
research was deformities of the teeth of
research was deformities of the teeth of larvae of non-biting midges our Upton is
larvae of non-biting midges our Upton is
larvae of non-biting midges our Upton is for six years very interesting actually
for six years very interesting actually
for six years very interesting actually got a PhD in this go figure no wonder I
got a PhD in this go figure no wonder I
got a PhD in this go figure no wonder I moved on to other things the thing is it
moved on to other things the thing is it
moved on to other things the thing is it is really useful because now I’m
is really useful because now I’m
is really useful because now I’m actually applying my developmental
actually applying my developmental
actually applying my developmental biology background into aerospace now
biology background into aerospace now
biology background into aerospace now thinking about some of developing space
thinking about some of developing space
thinking about some of developing space systems is nothing new for example this
systems is nothing new for example this
systems is nothing new for example this is a very nice example of a proposal
is a very nice example of a proposal
is a very nice example of a proposal that NASA brought out in the 80s of a
that NASA brought out in the 80s of a
that NASA brought out in the 80s of a self-replicating lunar Factory it’s
self-replicating lunar Factory it’s
self-replicating lunar Factory it’s basically an autonomous factory in which
basically an autonomous factory in which
basically an autonomous factory in which machines would build a system a factory
machines would build a system a factory
machines would build a system a factory for example infrastructure and the
for example infrastructure and the
for example infrastructure and the machines which self replicates to keep
machines which self replicates to keep
machines which self replicates to keep on produce
on produce
on produce seeing more of the infrastructure using
seeing more of the infrastructure using
seeing more of the infrastructure using lunar soil now today with all the new
lunar soil now today with all the new
lunar soil now today with all the new technologies around an especially 3d
technologies around an especially 3d
technologies around an especially 3d printing suddenly the idea of building
printing suddenly the idea of building
printing suddenly the idea of building things on in space on the fly have
things on in space on the fly have
things on in space on the fly have become much more realistic and actually
become much more realistic and actually
become much more realistic and actually right now in the international space
right now in the international space
right now in the international space station there is a 3d printer created by
station there is a 3d printer created by
station there is a 3d printer created by made in space that is actually used to
made in space that is actually used to
made in space that is actually used to run experiments and I believe that 3d
run experiments and I believe that 3d
run experiments and I believe that 3d printing could be a real game-changer in
printing could be a real game-changer in
printing could be a real game-changer in the future of space travel now when
the future of space travel now when
the future of space travel now when we’re thinking about a spacecraft the
we’re thinking about a spacecraft the
we’re thinking about a spacecraft the starship that develops itself over time
starship that develops itself over time
starship that develops itself over time it’s traveling at a very high speed
it’s traveling at a very high speed
it’s traveling at a very high speed where did the resources come from the
where did the resources come from the
where did the resources come from the thing is it can’t really stop to find
thing is it can’t really stop to find
thing is it can’t really stop to find some stuff and I move on it’s travelling
some stuff and I move on it’s travelling
some stuff and I move on it’s travelling way too fast it takes too long to to
way too fast it takes too long to to
way too fast it takes too long to to decelerate so basically what you need to
decelerate so basically what you need to
decelerate so basically what you need to do is you need to take all your raw
do is you need to take all your raw
do is you need to take all your raw materials on board there’s basically a
materials on board there’s basically a
materials on board there’s basically a bit like this like an embryo like a
bit like this like an embryo like a
bit like this like an embryo like a chick egg you know the the yolk is
chick egg you know the the yolk is
chick egg you know the the yolk is basically the raw material it’s all
basically the raw material it’s all
basically the raw material it’s all self-contained and the raw material over
self-contained and the raw material over
self-contained and the raw material over time develops into this complex thing
time develops into this complex thing
time develops into this complex thing which is a small chick so this is the
which is a small chick so this is the
which is a small chick so this is the core concept of what I’m proposing here
core concept of what I’m proposing here
core concept of what I’m proposing here took me years to come up with this three
took me years to come up with this three
took me years to come up with this three squares anyhow you have a spaceship
squares anyhow you have a spaceship
squares anyhow you have a spaceship which is like an active component there
which is like an active component there
which is like an active component there is raw materials and then there is
is raw materials and then there is
is raw materials and then there is constant bootstrapping of growth and
constant bootstrapping of growth and
constant bootstrapping of growth and evolution and the groove then you have
evolution and the groove then you have
evolution and the groove then you have lose the growth and evolution are
lose the growth and evolution are
lose the growth and evolution are basically stimulated because in part
basically stimulated because in part
basically stimulated because in part because of environmental change is the
because of environmental change is the
because of environmental change is the interstellar medium in the open space
interstellar medium in the open space
interstellar medium in the open space between stars is not constant they’re
between stars is not constant they’re
between stars is not constant they’re different kinds of challenges such as
different kinds of challenges such as
different kinds of challenges such as radiation impacts of micro meteorites
radiation impacts of micro meteorites
radiation impacts of micro meteorites etc and there’s of course also internal
etc and there’s of course also internal
etc and there’s of course also internal G changes your populations might grow
G changes your populations might grow
G changes your populations might grow and might need more space now what kind
and might need more space now what kind
and might need more space now what kind of materials are you going to take on
of materials are you going to take on
of materials are you going to take on board shipping materials from Earth and
board shipping materials from Earth and
board shipping materials from Earth and moving them into space is really
moving them into space is really
moving them into space is really expensive so we came up with the idea
expensive so we came up with the idea
expensive so we came up with the idea because I’m working on this with many
because I’m working on this with many
because I’m working on this with many different people at my university and I
different people at my university and I
different people at my university and I left with all student team we came up
left with all student team we came up
left with all student team we came up with the idea of using asteroids and
with the idea of using asteroids and
with the idea of using asteroids and clicking a protostar ship to an asteroid
clicking a protostar ship to an asteroid
clicking a protostar ship to an asteroid and then gradually over time during the
and then gradually over time during the
and then gradually over time during the journey use the asteroids for resources
journey use the asteroids for resources
journey use the asteroids for resources and the asteroid could be used for
and the asteroid could be used for
and the asteroid could be used for resources both to develop the ecosystem
resources both to develop the ecosystem
resources both to develop the ecosystem and to develop the architecture because
and to develop the architecture because
and to develop the architecture because it’s known that asteroids contain both
it’s known that asteroids contain both
it’s known that asteroids contain both organic material water
organic material water
organic material water and different types of metals now there
and different types of metals now there
and different types of metals now there is a difference between growth and
is a difference between growth and
is a difference between growth and evolution and I need to make the
evolution and I need to make the
evolution and I need to make the distinction here growth is the way in
distinction here growth is the way in
distinction here growth is the way in which you’re developing our model is a
which you’re developing our model is a
which you’re developing our model is a repetition of the same systems a
repetition of the same systems a
repetition of the same systems a particular system works and then you
particular system works and then you
particular system works and then you don’t need to need to change it
don’t need to need to change it
don’t need to need to change it evolution is something else
evolution is something else
evolution is something else evolution is like really changing the
evolution is like really changing the
evolution is like really changing the morphology of the whole system and this
morphology of the whole system and this
morphology of the whole system and this is how we look at it the spaceship the
is how we look at it the spaceship the
is how we look at it the spaceship the starship is traveling and has a sensing
starship is traveling and has a sensing
starship is traveling and has a sensing horizon which is a term or a consider
horizon which is a term or a consider
horizon which is a term or a consider comes from robotics it can sense what’s
comes from robotics it can sense what’s
comes from robotics it can sense what’s coming up if what’s coming up is very
coming up if what’s coming up is very
coming up if what’s coming up is very similar to what was already happening
similar to what was already happening
similar to what was already happening it’ll grow if it’s very different it’ll
it’ll grow if it’s very different it’ll
it’ll grow if it’s very different it’ll start to evolve and this is a kind of
start to evolve and this is a kind of
start to evolve and this is a kind of concept that we’ve been developing now
concept that we’ve been developing now
concept that we’ve been developing now this is all very well but we can’t
this is all very well but we can’t
this is all very well but we can’t really build any starships yet so what
really build any starships yet so what
really build any starships yet so what are we going to do with these ideas and
are we going to do with these ideas and
are we going to do with these ideas and is this a beautiful study of series of
is this a beautiful study of series of
is this a beautiful study of series of studies done by carl sims in the 90s
studies done by carl sims in the 90s
studies done by carl sims in the 90s that showed me how they could be
that showed me how they could be
that showed me how they could be explored and what Carl Sims did was he
explored and what Carl Sims did was he
explored and what Carl Sims did was he evolved virtual creatures these are
evolved virtual creatures these are
evolved virtual creatures these are computer simulations in which virtual
computer simulations in which virtual
computer simulations in which virtual creatures are evolving a body morphology
creatures are evolving a body morphology
creatures are evolving a body morphology over time using genetic algorithms it’s
over time using genetic algorithms it’s
over time using genetic algorithms it’s like Darwinism and mathematics
like Darwinism and mathematics
like Darwinism and mathematics completely combined with each other and
completely combined with each other and
completely combined with each other and you see an evolution that otherwise you
you see an evolution that otherwise you
you see an evolution that otherwise you would never be able to predict and it is
would never be able to predict and it is
would never be able to predict and it is a very interesting technique and so
a very interesting technique and so
a very interesting technique and so we’re basically using a very similar
we’re basically using a very similar
we’re basically using a very similar technique and this is the model we’re
technique and this is the model we’re
technique and this is the model we’re currently developing we’re not done yet
currently developing we’re not done yet
currently developing we’re not done yet take an asteroid we like I said we click
take an asteroid we like I said we click
take an asteroid we like I said we click on the protostar ship we move the Astro
on the protostar ship we move the Astro
on the protostar ship we move the Astro to the front it becomes this shield
to the front it becomes this shield
to the front it becomes this shield so it’s an ablative shield if there’s
so it’s an ablative shield if there’s
so it’s an ablative shield if there’s any impacts in the front you lose a bit
any impacts in the front you lose a bit
any impacts in the front you lose a bit of your asteroid but your starship is
of your asteroid but your starship is
of your asteroid but your starship is safe and then we define a typology of
safe and then we define a typology of
safe and then we define a typology of modules for our architecture we have
modules for our architecture we have
modules for our architecture we have processing we have manufactured we have
processing we have manufactured we have
processing we have manufactured we have storage we have habitation and we have
storage we have habitation and we have
storage we have habitation and we have life-support and there are certain rules
life-support and there are certain rules
life-support and there are certain rules in which these modules can grow and this
in which these modules can grow and this
in which these modules can grow and this is the kind of architectural model that
is the kind of architectural model that
is the kind of architectural model that we’re currently developing and we’re
we’re currently developing and we’re
we’re currently developing and we’re really interested to see what will
really interested to see what will
really interested to see what will happen if we predefined a particular
happen if we predefined a particular
happen if we predefined a particular interstellar trip with all kinds of
interstellar trip with all kinds of
interstellar trip with all kinds of challenges and then to throw one of our
challenges and then to throw one of our
challenges and then to throw one of our designs into that simulation and see
designs into that simulation and see
designs into that simulation and see what happens during the journey it’s
what happens during the journey it’s
what happens during the journey it’s like self developing architecture now
like self developing architecture now
like self developing architecture now it’s always interesting when you talk
it’s always interesting when you talk
it’s always interesting when you talk about space too
about space too
about space too see how much you can learn from that
see how much you can learn from that
see how much you can learn from that exercise for Earth and I think when
exercise for Earth and I think when
exercise for Earth and I think when we’re dealing with uncertain futures it
we’re dealing with uncertain futures it
we’re dealing with uncertain futures it makes no sense to regress to static
makes no sense to regress to static
makes no sense to regress to static solutions from the past on the contrary
solutions from the past on the contrary
solutions from the past on the contrary I really believe we should embrace
I really believe we should embrace
I really believe we should embrace ongoing change uncertainty and we should
ongoing change uncertainty and we should
ongoing change uncertainty and we should really try to increase adaptability and
really try to increase adaptability and
really try to increase adaptability and nurture it and in the end I think we
nurture it and in the end I think we
nurture it and in the end I think we should let evolution be what it always
should let evolution be what it always
should let evolution be what it always has been best at an endless stream of
has been best at an endless stream of
has been best at an endless stream of ongoing change thank you
ongoing change thank you
ongoing change thank you [Applause]
”
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