Morphogenetic engineering: toward programmable complex systems

Two major types of morphogenetic complex systems can be distinguished: ones that display simple repetitive patterns (spots and stripes) and ones that produce sophisticated functional shapes (bodies and constructions). We are interested here in the latter, since they represent decentralized systems endowed with a modular architecture, which can be observed in biology at every scale (cells, organisms, insect constructions) and also in certain engineered devices of a highly distributed nature (multi-agent software). To describe these architectures without architects, the concept of “morphogenetically architected complex systems” (MACS) allows drawing a link between spontaneously evolved biological and industrial complex systems, while at the same time focusing on structure. From there, we can address the question of (re)taking control of these systems, i.e. guiding or programming them toward more specific and beneficial outcomes. Broadly, this can be achieved in two ways: by instilling more self-organization into computing artefacts (swarm robotics, autonomous networks) and, conversely, by instilling more information technology into self-organizing natural objects (synthetic biology, organ growth).