M-BLOCKS-self assembling cubes

I. Introduction

II. Structure and design

III. How do the cubes somersault?

IV. Future plans?

V. Similar tech from 2008

Introduction Small cubes that can independently roll across the

ground, leap through the air, and snap together to form

different shapes have been developed by scientists at

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

An army of 100 of the robots – known as M-Blocks – is

now being built. It is hoped that when the cubes are

scattered randomly across the floor, they will be able to

identify each other, come together and coalesce to

become a chair, ladder or desk on demand.

Ultimately the hope is that the blocks can be

minituarised so that hordes of swarming microbots can

self-assemble, like the liquid metal T-1000 robot in the

Hollywood blockbuster Terminator 2.

STRUCTURE AND DESIGN

On each edge of a cube are two cylindrical magnets, mounted

like rolling pins. When two cubes approach each other, the

magnets naturally rotate, so that north poles align with south, and

vice versa. Any face of any cube can thus attach to any face of

any other.

The cubes’ edges are also beveled, so when two cubes are face

to face, there’s a slight gap between their magnets. When one

cube begins to flip on top of another, the bevels, and thus the

magnets, touch. The connection between the cubes becomes

much stronger, anchoring the pivot. On each face of a cube are four more pairs of smaller magnets, arranged symmetrically, which

help snap a moving cube into place when it lands on top of

another.

RADIO RECEVIER SECTION

FLYWHEEL SECTION

The flywheel can reach speeds of

20,000rpm and when the robot cube puts

the brakes on, it gives itself angular

momentum.

A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used

to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant

moment of inertia and thus resist changes in rotational

speed.

ACTUATOR SECTION

An actuator is a type of motor for moving or

controlling a mechanism or system. It is

operated by a source of energy, typically

electric current, hydraulic fluid

How do the cubes somersault?

"Inside each M-Block is a flywheel that can reach speeds

of 20,000 revolutions per minute; when the flywheel is

braked, it imparts its angular momentum to the cube. On

each edge of an M-Block, and on every face, are

cleverly arranged permanent magnets that allow any

two cubes to attach to each other,

They are currently controlled by computer

instructions sent over wireless radio, but in future

the researchers hope algorithms can be loaded

directly into the blocks, making them entirely

autonomous and capable of adapting to

different environments. This ability to potentially

“think” independently leads to philosophical

questions about how the advance could impact

on the development of artificial intelligence.

FUTURE PLANS

We want hundreds of cubes, scattered randomly across the floor, to be able to identify each other, coalesce, and autonomously transform into a chair, or a ladder, or a desk, on demand," says John Romanishin, a research scientist working on the project.

Reactions so far...

- "A search and rescue plane could carry a few hundred thousand of these blocks to be drop into the ocean upon which they self assemble into a small boat. - Drop them into a desert where they self assemble into a hut for shelter. - Drop them into a broken dam where they self assemble to plug the dam. - Make the outside casing conductive so they can self assemble into a long power line in the event of a downed power line out in the middle of ... "nowhere".Until the crew arrives," says YouTube user Pullman WA.

"Imagine what this technology is going to look like once its been shrunk down to the smallest size possible? Imagine a billion grains of sand, each one a tiny modular robot, all linking together to have any form it sees fit. It would be something like the T-1000 from Terminator 2," says YouTube user CoronaMage.

Similar tech from 2008

In 2008, there were modular robots but these were

way slower... These modular bots were created by

scientists at the University of Pennsylvania

TERMINATOR COMES REAL

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