Cambridge University, IntAct? Labs has been working on finding alternative ways of generating power. One such way is to mimic the piezo resitive properties of a protein called prestin. This protein uses electrical current to generate motion and vice versa. The plan is to use these proteins to generate electricity by putting them under stress. Forming large networks of the proteins and then using them as mechanical components or skins would allow power generation simply from functioning or external stimuli. Doing so would greatly reduce overall power needs as well as external power sources and the cost of towing them along.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/16/motion-sensitive-power-skins-could-generate-power-in-space/
Biological organisms have internal "programming" that predetermines their functions. These models are continually updated to evaluate the condions of the organism's environment as well as the current condition of the organism. As such, the organism updates its function to manage damage and modify performance accordingly. A Cornell University robotics project has recently applied this theory of self programming to develop a robot that can create an internal model to function optimally. This allows it to assess damage and alter its perfomance like an organism.
http://ccsl.mae.cornell.edu/research/selfmodels/
http://offsite.wdg.us/mae/ccsl/research/selfmodels/videos/resilient_428x240.wmv
Currently, I am planning on working with Petar on the final project. The plan is to integrate the principles of sacred geometry into an orbital ring. In this way, the fundamental structure of the ring will be a self-replicating sequence of platonic solids. These solids will grow independently of eachother until they merge into a continuous ring. This concept will also adopt the priciples of Dyson Rings and Paul Birch's orbital rings. We also plan to use some form of media for our fnal presentation, most likely a film, and to develop the overall concept and scenario.
http://sacred-geometry.com/Golden.html