CLAYTRONICS

Programmable Matter

Presented By: Mukesh Buradkar 5th sem Sec-B Roll No: 143

Contents

Introduction Moores Law Objectives of the research Catoms Components of catom: Hardware Software Types of catoms Current catoms Motion of catoms Applications Pario Synthetic Reality References

What is Claytronics?
A combination of modular robotics,

nanotechnology and computer science.[1]

Claytronics is one of the most revolutionary

branch of Comp-Mech-Elec Engineering. We can say that it is advance branch of artificial intelligence.

About The Project

Started in 2005. This project being conducted in Carnegie Mellon University with the support from Intel aims to create programmable matter. The project team led by Professors Todd C. Mowry, Seth Goldstein includes researchers from Intel Labs Pittsburgh. Estimated arrival by 2017.[4]

Introduction
Project combining the modular robotics , nanotechnology & computer science to create the 3-d display of electronic information the research focuses on 2 main projects 1) creating the basic building block of claytronics known as claytronic atom (catoms) 2) designing & writing s\w program

Role of Moore's law.

This promise of claytronic technology has become possible because of the ever increasing speeds of computer processing predicted in Moores law.

CATOMS

CATOMS
The basic unit of claytronics are Catoms that is claytronics atoms. Also known as "programmable matter. Catoms:- Sub-millimeter computers that will eventually have the ability to move around, communicate with each others, change color, and electro-statically connect to other catoms to form different shapes. [1]

Catoms considering the tiny robots

Catoms are self-reconfigurable

robots that could change shape depending on a task .

Operating as a snake-like robot to wiggle through tight

spaces or a cellphone that could reform itself into a laptop and back into a cell phone again.

CURRENT STATUS OF RESEARCH

Current stage of design: Claytronics hardware operates from macro scale designs with devices much larger than the tiny modular robots.[2]

such devices are designed to test concept for sub-millimeter catoms and effects of physical and electric force on them.

Scaling and design principles

Four basic design principles :
1. Each catom should be self contained.

2. No static power should be required for adhesion after attachment.

3. Coordination should be performed via local control. 4. Catoms should contain no moving parts.

Depending on the scaling principles there are three regimes of catoms.

Properties Dimensions Weight Power Locomotive mechanism Adhesion mechanism Manufacturing methods Macro > 1cm 10s of grams < 2 watts Programmable magnets Magnets Conventional Micro >1 mm 100s of mg 10s of mW Electrostatics Nano < 10 microns < 1 mg 10s of nW Aerosol

Programmable Molecular surface adhesion, Nanofibers adhesives covalent bonds Nano fabrication Chemically directed self assembly

Resolution
Cost

Low
$$$/catom

High
$/catom

High
Millicent/ catom

Claytronics hardware
The basic hardware of a claytronic atom comprises of: CPU energy source network device video output device one or more sensors Mechanism for adhering to other catoms

Different types of catoms.

The major types of catoms are:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Planar catoms Electrostatic latches Stochastic catoms Giant helium catoms

Planar catoms.

CURRENT CATOMS i.e. Planar

2D Movement

Basically Planar
44 mm diameter cylindrical

rings with 24 magnets Electromagnets as Connectors for Movement Recoupling Time is 100ms Conductive stripes for power

Electro static latches

Giant helium catoms

Capabilities of catoms
Power Motion Computation

Communication

1.Power
Power is supply throughout ensemble via

metal contact rings.

Only few catoms connected together to

draw power, when these catoms are energized, which gets triggered and distribute power through the catoms.

2. Motion
Movements amongst catoms

is due to electrostatic or electromagnetic force.

A catom will move itself by

energizing a particular magnet and Cooperating with neighboring catom.

3. COMPUTATION
Since catoms are tiny computers and it also

have microprocessor, thus co-operation among all hardware is done via existing microprocessor technology.
A silicon chip transmitted data at 3.2

gigabits per second from and to a microprocessor using optical signals

4. COMMUNICATION
There can be billions of catoms in ensemble (group of

catoms).
Catoms may be in motion. Infrared sensors allow for communication. To organize action of billions of tiny catoms none is better

than the use of algorithm and programming languages. 1. MELD 2. LDP

Software
Software research is a tedious process.

Organizing the communication and actions between millions of catoms require development in algorithms and programming languages.
The major goal of claytronics matrix is to form 3d shapes.

Matrix software must actuate the constant change in locations of catoms.

Distributed computing in claytronics

Motion of the ensemble is the

common goal of all catoms

Thousands of catoms are

connected together in a very small area

fig. Matrix of 20000 catoms

Considered as internet in a box

All these nodes communicate with

each other just like the computers connected in network.

Programming languages
Motion of each node is the objective of the program Researchers have created two new languages called MELD and LDP MELD:

Meld is a declarative language designed for programming overlay networks.

By using this the code for an ensemble of robots can be written from a global perspective.

This dramatically simplifies the thought process for programming the movement of a claytronics matrix.

Codes are small as compared to c++.

LDP ( Locally Distributed Predicates): A program that addresses a fixed-size module.

This allows programmers to operate the claytronic matrix more frequently and efficiently.

Functioning of Catom
The required data is communicated to each catom. The specifications are compiled into local action.

The catoms communicate with each other in an ensemble and

compute state information, possibly with assistance from each other.

Catoms move in three dimensions relative to each other using

on board power and adhere to each other to form a three dimensional shape.

Motion of catoms
Idea: Catoms that are

the ground find empty spaces

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 Ground-floor catom

finds and locks a different catom, handing off directions to empty space.
next Move Catom: 5 FID: 4

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 Message is

propagated. Locked catoms form a path.

next Move Catom: 8 FID: 3

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 Finally, message can

no longer propagate

next Move Catom: 1 FID: 6

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 And final catom begins

to move

Next Move?

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 And finally catom

begins to move
Catom:8 FID: 3

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Applications
Claytronics could transform communication, entertainment, medicine and more. Revolution in Communication
One Dimensional Two Dimensional Three Dimensional

CONTD.
PARIO
One of the primary goals of claytronics is to form the basis for a new media type, PARIO. Pario the logical extension of audio and video, is a media type used to reproduce moving 3D objects in the real world. When this goal is achieved we will be able to create an environment called synthetic reality.

CONTD 2.
Helps users to carry around a lump of catoms that can reshape in to any object .

Shape Shifting Furniture!

Change the shape of furniture and the wall paintings according to preferences from time to time

CONTD 3.
Persons from different locations can work on a same model. Would enable to work remotely in physical hostile environments. It may help scientists learn how to efficiently manage networks of millions of computers. It will also advance our understanding of nanotechnology.

Future design
3D movement of catoms.
Catoms will be able to emit variable colour and intensity of light, allowing for dynamic physical rendering. Onboard battery sufficient to power catoms will exceed the size of the catom itself, so an alternate energy solution is desired.

Research is being done into powering all of the catoms in an ensemble, utilizing the catom-tocatom contact as a means of energy transport. Develop a unary connector for the catoms in order to keep reconfiguration time at a minimum. Nanofibers provide a possible solution to this challenge.

3D Physical Rendering

conclusion

Many challenges need to be resolved before bringing this technology to real world. The hardware aspect of this technology deals with making the crude and tiny robots to move and configure. The software aspect is still highly staggering. It concerns with controlling the movements of minute catoms and programming these millions to work together. Still, claytronics is a promising field of engineering.

References
[1] S.Goldstein, J. Campbell, and T. Mowry, Programmable matter, IEEE

Computer, vol. 38, 6, pp. 99101, May 2005.

[2] M. Ashley-Rollman, S. C. Goldstein, P. Lee, T. Mowry, and P. Pillai, Meld:

A declarative approach to programming ensembles, in Proceedings of IEEE/RSJ Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), 2007.
[3] A. Pamecha, I. Ebert-Uphoff, and G. Chirikjian, Useful metrics for modular

robot motion planning, in IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, vol. 13, 1997.
[4] www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics(Carnegie Mellon University official website:

dated- 28/09/2012).