GIK
Encyclopedia
The Great Invention Kit (GIK; also Grace Gershenfeld Invention Kit) is a construction set
, like Lego
, but using a different type of assembly principle. It was first developed by Eli, Grace, and Neil Gershenfeld
in their house.
Two GIK parts are assembled by turning one of them by 90 degrees and then press-fitting them together. Numerous three dimensional constructions can be assembled out of two dimensional parts. The advantage of press-fit is that it allows objects made of GIK to be disassembled and re-assembled into something else.
applications of GIK to modular robotics systems like J. Storrs Hall
's Utility Fog seem obvious. That is, GIK-like systems can provide the modular structure required by modular robotics.
Construction set
A construction set is a set of standardized pieces that allow for the construction of a variety of different models. The pieces avoid the lead time of manufacturing custom pieces, and of requiring special training or design time to construct complex systems...
, like Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
, but using a different type of assembly principle. It was first developed by Eli, Grace, and Neil Gershenfeld
Neil Gershenfeld
Neil Gershenfeld is a professor at MIT and the head of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, a sister lab spun out of the popular MIT Media Lab. His research interests are mainly in interdisciplinary studies involving physics and computer science, in such fields as quantum computing, nanotechnology,...
in their house.
Two GIK parts are assembled by turning one of them by 90 degrees and then press-fitting them together. Numerous three dimensional constructions can be assembled out of two dimensional parts. The advantage of press-fit is that it allows objects made of GIK to be disassembled and re-assembled into something else.
Advantages
The advantages of the GIK are:- Scalability. It is very easy to scale down or up GIK parts using the appropriate cutting machine and the appropriate material.
- Material diversity. GIK parts can be made out of various materials :
- Conductive or insulating materials, useful in electronics.
- Various refractive coefficient materials, useful in optics.
- Soft or hard materials, useful as joints.
- Doped or un-doped materials, useful in active Electronics.
- Bio-compatible materials, useful in medicine and Tissue EngineeringTissue engineeringTissue engineering is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physio-chemical factors to improve or replace biological functions...
- Reversibility. GIK assemblies can be constructed and reconstructed, with therefore no trash, and taking full advantage of reuse and recycling.
Uses
GIK parts can be used as modules of structures both large and small. As Neil Gershenfeld is the director of MIT's Center for Bits and AtomsCenter for Bits and Atoms
The Center for Bits and Atoms was established in 2001 in the MIT Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The cross-disciplinary center broadly looks at the intersection of information to its physical representation....
applications of GIK to modular robotics systems like J. Storrs Hall
J. Storrs Hall
John Storrs Hall is involved in the field of molecular nanotechnology. He founded the sci.nanotech Usenet newsgroup and moderated it for ten years, and served as the founding chief scientist of Nanorex Inc. for two years...
's Utility Fog seem obvious. That is, GIK-like systems can provide the modular structure required by modular robotics.