Michael SimkinIndependent researcher · Tbilisi, GeorgiaSearch

Engineering & Computing

Physical computation, simulations, search tools, and software experiments.

Explore the 11 articles ↓

Building is part of the research. This page brings together physical computation, computational models, and the software used to test an idea.

Physical computation

Still-life tiles turn Life’s stability constraints into pieces that fit together. The later 3D tile construction encodes one evolving Life step through successive layers. Multilayer Mutilated Gear explores logic through a simulated mechanical system. Each article distinguishes models from physical experiments.

Models and tools

Simulation & Visualization follows deep fractals and mechanical models. Programming & Computing follows the implementation work behind them, including GPU arithmetic, GPU chess, Life searches, and geometric algorithms.

Practical experiments

The collection also includes webcam-derived randomness and a desktop Wi-Fi QR-code reader. Their articles separate experimental claims from implemented conveniences.

Subtopics

Simulation & Visualization ↗2 articlesProgramming & Computing ↗6 articles

Articles in this topic

11 articles
Blue printed still-life puzzle tiles held beside a ruler, photographed in June 2016.
ResearchDemonstrated result

Making Still-Life Tiles Physical

Printable puzzle pieces whose connections encode Life’s stability constraints, developed with Paul Callahan and Adam Goucher.

The complete glider assembly, exploded into its initial-state, blue, two orange, purple, and final-state layers.
ResearchExperiment

Conway’s Life in 3D Tiles

Make a Life generation by assembling coloured pieces: six blue, eight orange, eight purple, and four black/white tile types, with illustrated inputs, outputs, and a compact 3D tile set.

A syntax-colored LifeAPI code example initializing and evolving a glider.
ProjectImplemented

LifeAPI

Optimized 64×64, bit-packed Game of Life evolution, with the operations needed for combinatorial searches.

Animated enumeration of different block and beehive catalyst placements.
ProjectImplemented

CatForce

Brute-force catalyst searches that test recovery without prescribing the interaction.

Computed Mandelbrot set with colored escape-time bands.
ProjectImplemented

Mandelbrot CUDA

Deep fractal exploration using adjustable fixed-point precision on CUDA and WebGPU.

Conceptual illustration of a chess knight on a GPU chip with parallel circuit paths.
ProjectImplemented

Deep-Formix

A custom deep, narrow evaluation network, NNUE-style updates, and a working GPU chess search—developed while stress-testing Gemini.

Both ends of Geminoid Particles build their next heads, then remove old circuitry, while the long instruction tape winds between them.
ResearchDemonstrated result

Geminoid Particles

A custom nine-state cellular automaton for exploring construction and self-destruction.

Desktop QR Wi-Fi scanner camera window from the repository.
ProjectImplemented

QR Wi-Fi Scanner

A small desktop utility that reads a Wi-Fi sharing QR code and copies its password.