Controversial Origins of Tensegrity

Abstract

Tensegrity is a developing and relatively new system (barely more than 50 years old) which creates amazing, lightweight and adaptable figures, giving the impression of a cluster of struts floating in the air. The intention of this paper is to explain the origins of tensegrity, original patents included, and shed light on some polemic aspects about the authorship, enquiring personally to its discoverer, the sculptor Kenneth Snelson. Finally, the history and progress of this kind of structure will be revised, tracing a line of the time and pointing out the most relevant authors, specialists and publications, which could serve as a guide for further investigators.