On Maps, Machines and Roaches

An introduction to cut-and-paste topology

Classroom Adventures in Mathematics, August 6, 2013

Based on an M.Sc. thesis by Dori Eldar

Abstract:

We try to map the configuration space of a simple machine, a six-legged idealized roach, and find that good old cut-and-paste topology can be a lot of fun.

Talk video     Handout-1308.pdf

See http://www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/Talks/Machines
and http://www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/People/Eldar/thesis/