Researchers at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) published findings online at the beginning of last week on the work the groups have been doing on programmable matter. The technology currently is only able to create simple origami-like shapes from a self-folding sheet but hints at larger shape-shifting objects in the future.
Using a segmented resin-fiberglass sheet that has the triangular segments separated by silicone joints, the rather tiny object responds to electrical current to reconfigure itself along the joints. The device is only capable of creating two shapes but the teams involved are attempting to increase the number of possibilities.
Part of the description of the project at the Harvard Microbiotics Laboratory reads “Our programmable matter sheets are currently self-reconfigurable and capable of forming multiple user-defined structural components and objects”. The possibilities offered by this project could include optical or electrical devices that are able to alter their dimensions and shape. Or Transformers.
Brett Venter
