inControl ep13 - John Doyle, Part II: Architectures, Universal laws, Layers, Levels, and Diversity-enabled Sweet Spots
Jun 14, 2023
In this episode, John Doyle discusses complex systems and layered architectures, including topics such as the interplay between physics, bacteria, and the internet, earthquakes, wildfires, and sepsis. He explores the essential components of a full theory of architectures, including universal laws, layers, levels, and diversity-enabled sweet spots. The podcast also covers topics like power laws, the role of feedback in bacterial chemotaxis and visual perception, and the relationship between intelligent design and evolution. Lastly, it touches on societal implications and the importance of constructive criticism.
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Overlooking Architectures
- Control engineers excel at designing algorithms within given architectures, but often neglect the architectures themselves.
- This oversight leads to fragile systems, as seen in various domains from biology to the internet.
Power Laws and Design
- Power laws are prevalent in complex systems, but not all arise from critical phase transitions like sandpiles.
- Design systems often exhibit power laws because resources are allocated to common disturbances, not rare, large events.
SBML's Origin Story
- The Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) was conceived in a Tokyo bar with Hiroaki Kitano.
- John Doyle secured funding and assembled a team, highlighting his strength in initiating projects.