CLAYTRONICS THE PROGRAMMABLE MATTER

Anirudh M .Deshpande
K.L.S. Gogte Institute of Technology
PCH No: 413
Mail ID: anirudh.deshpande008@gmail.com

Basavaraj A .Teli
K.L.S. Gogte Institute of Technology
PCH No: 414
Mail ID: basavaraj.git@gmail.com

Abstract:New nano-materials with unique properties and

functions could significantly change many segments of the
materials, manufacturing industries, impacting on the way
goods are manufactured and designed using a variety of
electronic, mechanical, and biological techniques. One such
new technology is ushering in this era which combines
modular robotics, systems nanotechnology and computer
science to create the dynamic , 3-Dimensionla display of
electronic information known as claytronics . Its goal is to
give tangible, interactive forms to information so that a user's
senses will experience digital environments as though they
are indistinguishable from reality. Here is the review of
the key elements of the emergent technology of Claytronics
and an outline of the research challenges they pose to the
present and future generation.

I. INTRODUCTION
Claytronics also called as Dynamic Physical rendering
is upcoming field of engineering still in its infancy,
dealing with configuration of claytronic atoms (CATOMS)
to build bigger intelligent machines like robots. In a
near future of the technology, catoms or wellstone
commonly known as programmable matter will exhibit
the property of morphing, transiting to any shapes,
colors and sizes. However there is no obvious problem
with the physics principle, which forms the foundation
of such technology. A LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
simplest form of programmable matter runs on same
physics principle. A big difference that
makes
programmable matter , a science fiction subject or
rather star wars fantasy is because the scale on which
programmable matter is controlled. Claytronics research
arose out of a combination of work on microscale
computing devices and work on telepresence, so it's not
surprising that the researchers emphasize the utility of the
claytronics system as a means of doing virtual
meetings with apparent physical presence. This technology
also suggest that the system could have a role in
telemedicine, allowing a patient and doctor to be on
different continents, but each able to the physical
presence of the other with claytronic emulations.
Claytronics though based upon on concepts of physics
and electronics in schoolbooks (and a neat trick), it's a
technology of 2040 and 2050 due to the technical

challenge scientific and engineering community live with.

Challenge is to develop and control this material on
the scale of nanometers (100 times thinner then human
hair, 1 nanometer = 10 -9 meters).
II.HISTORY
The research on this technology is being conducted at
Carnegie Mellon University and is being funded by Intel.
The vision of the research is to create miniature
computers roughly the size of a BB that can connect to
each other using an electrostatic technique. This is the
vision of the future for Seth Goldstein, an associate
professor at Carnegie Mellon University(CMU). For the
past four years, Goldstein and a team of researchers
from CMU, Intel Corp., and the U.S. Air Force Research
Lab have been working to create swarms of tiny robots
that can be manipulated with electromagnetic forces to
create various forms.

Fig: shows catom used in claytronics

III. ARCHITECTURE

Claytronics is made up of individual components, called

catoms(Claytronic atoms) that can move in three
dimensions (in relation to other catoms), adhere to other
catoms to maintain a 3D shape, and compute state
information (with possible assistance from other catoms in
the ensemble). Each catom is a self-contained unit with a
CPU, an energy store, a network device, a video output
device, one or more sensors, a means of locomotion, and
a mechanism for adhering to other catoms. A Claytronics

system forms a shape through the interaction of the

individual catoms.

ensemble, then
[any] regions without particles will
correspond directly to the volume occupied by the
object (Pillai et al, 2006). The catom ensemble knows
how to form and keep the required shape by means of
software directed electrostatic contact points. As noted,
the sending information does not have to originate with an
actual three-dimensional object.
Whether the sender provides information via a bucket
of catoms or electronic drawings, the catom ensembles
on the receiving end will handle it and reproduce its
output in real time instead of hours or days. Each
catom in the ensemble will be a self-contained unit
with a CPU, an energy store, a network device, a
video output device, one or more sensors, a means of
locomotion, and a mechanism for adhering to other
catoms all this with no moving parts (Goldstein And
Mowry, 2004). Figure provides a brief
primer to
explain the researchers conception for dynamically
rendering.

Fig: shows the architecture of catom.

Fig: conception of dynamic rendering.

IV .WORKING MECHANISM
Claytronics is an emerging field of engineering
concerning reconfigurable nano-scale robots (claytronic
atoms, or catoms) designed to form much larger scale
machines or mechanisms. Also known as programmable
matter, the catoms will be sub-millimeter computers that
will
eventually have the ability to move around,
communicate with other computers, change color, and
electrostatically connect to other catoms to form
different shapes. Likely spherical in shape, a catom
would have no moving parts. Rather, it would be
covered with electromagnets to attach itself to other
catoms; it would move by using the electromagnets to
roll itself over other catoms. The catoms' surfaces would
have light-emitting diodes to allow them to change color
and photo cells to sense light, allowing the collective
robot to see. Each would contain a fairly powerful,
Pentium-class computer. Essentially, the object on the
sender side get immersed in a bucket of catoms. If
an object is completely embedded in a claytronic

Claytronics envisions multimillion - module robot

ensembles able to form into three-dimensional scenes,
eventually with sufficient fidelity so as to convince a
human observer the scenes are real Here is some of
the early science behind the future reality. The
claytronics researchers at Carnegie Mellon devised four
major design principles:
(1) Each catom in an ensemble must be completely selfcontained in terms of its computation, communication,
sensing, actuation, locomotion, and adhesion
to
contiguous catoms.
(2) Once catoms adhere, continued adhesion must not
require static power of any kind (this is necessary to
support efficient routing of power and avoid excessive
heat dissipation).
(3) Catoms must perform by means of local control (no
external computing).
(4). Catoms have no moving parts.

Clearly, dynamic physical rendering constitutes disruptive

technology even in this early period of development. The
enabling hardware technology behind synthetic reality
is claytronics a form of programmable matter that can
organize itself into a shape of an object and render its
outer surface to match the virtual appearance of that
object.

A Claytronics system forms a shape through the

interaction of the individual catoms. For example,
suppose we wish to synthesize a physical copy of a
person. The catoms would first determine their relative
location and orientation. Using that information they
would then form a network in a distributed fashion and
organize themselves into a hierarchical structure, both to
improve locality and to facilitate the planning and
coordination tasks.The goal (mimicking a human form)
would then be specified abstractly, perhaps as a series of
snapshots or as a collection of virtual deforming
forces, and then broadcast to the catoms.
Compilation of the specification would then provide
each catom with a local plan for achieving the desired
global shape. At this point, the catoms would start to
move around each other using forces generated on-board,
either magnetically or electrostatically, and adhere to each
other using, for example, a nanofiber-adhesive mechanism.
Finally, the catoms on the surface would display an image;
rendering the color and texture characteristics of the
source object. If the source object begins to move, a
concise description of the movements would be broadcast
allowing the catoms to update their positions by
moving around each other. The end result is that the
system appears to be a single coordinated system .

The DPR researchers have made good progress in

tackling the challenges of motion, power, and
communications. Dynamic Physical Rendering or
Synthetic Reality is almost the only project on
claytronics. Researchers at Intel Pittsburgh Laboratory
and Carnegie Mellon University are jointly working on
this research area. They are exploring new forms of
programmable matter and possibilities of star war
technologies like teleportation, teleoperation, distributed
sensing. And they have achieved an important milestone:
the development of a working, two-dimensional catom
prototype that is 44 millimeters (roughly two inches) in
diameter. Now they are striving to make the hardware
more reliable and easier to manufacture. Once they have
refined the prototype, they will begin to experiment with
shape control, communication and routing algorithms. The
hardware goal for the coming year is to develop
catoms that are reasonably robust, and inexpensive enough
that kits containing 100 or so catoms could be sold to
other researchers who could perform their own experiments
and explore new programming models and applications.
The software goal is to develop infrastructure for creating
simple but interesting software programs to control catom
ensembles.
VI. APPLICATIONS
Physically morphing
mobility).

objects

(important

Fig: Interactive 3-D design.

Fig: Concept of claytronics.

V. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Interactive 3D modeling and design.

New, arbitrarily customizable physical user
interfaces.
The ultimate in remote interaction.

for

 Synthetic Reality (beyond virtual reality and

augmented reality).

A small lump of claytronics can turn into

whatever object you need.

Fig: Creating a replica from 3-D image using claytronics.

Crime scene capture and reconstruction Physical 3D

models can be captured and faxed anywhere.

Fig: Morphing of physical devices.

Instant emergency response-The right expert

can have a physical presence anywhere,
instantly.

Face-to-face interactions without traveling

,Interviews, investigations, in trials, etc.

VII. FUTURE

Fig: 3-D faxing.

Morphing physical devices for people in the field-

Claytronics is taking place across a rapidly advancing

frontier. This technology will help to drive breathtaking
advances in the design and engineering of computing and
hardware systems. Realizing the vision of claytronics
through the self-assembly of millions of catoms into
synthetic reality will have a profound effect on the
experience of users of electronic information. This
promise of claytronic technology has become possible
because of the ever increasing speeds of computer
processing predicted in Moore's Law. Progress in field
of Nano-technology will dictate the future of
claytronics. Unless nano-technology comes up with
machines to control and manufacture catoms like
quantum dots, theory to engineer and command those
catoms will remain in research labs. The equation would
reverse itself once Claytronics is reality; it should change
not only the technology we live in today but also our lives
more than any invention ever has.

VIII. CONCLUSION

Unpredictable is the future though, changes in the

technology trends prepares everybody for tomorrow.
Biotechnology, Genetics, Space science, Nano-technology,
Material science, robotics and many more fields of
technology managed to make their way out from science
fiction in last 4 to 5 decades. Claytronics is an exception.
This technology is here, believe it or not, it is in its early
infancy, but there is no denying that this is going to be
the next revolution of human-kind..

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[4]http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/nano/small wonders pdffiles.htm
[5] www.howstufforks.com
[6]http://www.cc.utah.edu/~asn8200/rapid.html