I am seeking a function $f: \mathbb{R}^3 \to \mathbb{R}^3$ that has these properties: (1) When iterated $n$ times starting from some $p$, connecting the points in order with segments and closing last to first, $$(p, f(p), f^2(p), \ldots, f^n(p), p)$$ results in a simple (non-self-intersecting) closed polygonal cycle $K$. (2) When $K$ is viewed as a knot, it is highly tangled, e.g., it has large crossing number, or large unknotting number. The tangledness, however defined, should increase with $n$, the faster the better. (3) These properties should hold for infinitely many $n$. Expressed differently, I would like a way to generate an infinite variety of increasingly tangled stick knots via a simple function iteration. My requirements are a bit loose, as I just want to simply generate knotty examples. Likely some weaving is known to accomplish this...? <br /> ![Tangled Knot][1]<br /> (This question is related to an earlier question, "[Complexity of random knot with vertices on sphere][2].") [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/z38fk.jpg [2]: https://mathoverflow.net/questions/54412/