CELLNET: Biomimetic Cell Interface Adaptable to Physical Stimuli and Environment

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background : CellNet leverages hormone-regulated processes in plant cells, such as growth and proliferation, to create an interactive interface responsive to user gestures and environmental inputs. The study investigates the integration of bio-inspired interfaces with user interactions, simulating plant cell mechanisms that respond to external stimuli like hand and body gestures within augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) environments. Using insights from Arabidopsis sepal hormone signaling, the study models artificial cell interfaces that mimic the morphogenetic and morphological traits of microscopic cells.<BR/>Methods : The system incorporates sensors like the Leap Motion controller and Kinect V2 to detect user gestures, converting these actions into dynamic variables that influence the shape and behavior of the cell interface. These inputs are processed through Grasshopper, a computational programming tool in Rhino3D, to model a cell interface morphologically responsive to a user’s physical motions. To embody the biomimetic mechanism, a Kangaroo Physics plugin for Grasshopper mainly enables the simulation of interface responses, while the Fologram plugin and the Microsoft HoloLens2 HMD integrate the interfaces into mixed reality environments. This setup aligns virtual models with real world spaces, offering an immersive and interactive user experience. Iterative testing ensures that the interface remains responsive and engaging during real-time interactions.<BR/>Results : The research demonstrated that CellNet successfully produces bio-inspired interfaces capable of adapting to user gestures in real time. However, rendering challenges emerged with large datasets and complex simulations. To overcome these issues, script optimizations were implemented, including reducing visual complexity and simplifying parameter values. These adjustments greatly improved performance and responsiveness. Despite the obstacles, CellNet proved to be a reliable platform for exploring biological principles in interactive and immersive ways.<BR/>Conclusions : CellNet presents a unique opportunity to simulate biological processes through interactive, holographic interfaces. It allows users to engage with biomimetic designs, opening new avenues for studying and visualizing biological systems. The study concludes with the vision of extending the capabilities of this platform to broader scientific and educational applications in the future.