S.J.M.

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi, Recognized by AICTE, New
Delhi & Accredited by NAAC with B++ Grade)

Chitradurga – 577 502, Karnataka .

Technical Seminar
Topic:
“4D PRINTING”
Self Assembly and Programmable
Matter  Submitted By:

 MURUGESH P K
4SM14ME029
Road Map
Definitions
Programmable Matter
The Claytronics Project (Catoms)
The Self-Assembly Project
Biomolecular Self Assembly
Skylar Tibbits
4D Printing
Technologies Used
Future of 4D Printing
Discussion
Definitions
4D Printing – Taking a 3D printed object and adding
the ability of transformation by embedding a
program directly into the materials themselves.
Self-Assembly – a process by which disordered parts
build an ordered structure through only local
action.
Programmable Matter – matter that has the ability to
change its physical properties in a programmable
fashion, based upon user input or autonomous
sensing.
Programmable Matter
High-volume nanoscale assembly.
Ability to inexpensively produce millimeter-scale units
that integrate computing, sensing, actuation, and
locomotion mechanisms.
A collection of these nanoscale units is programmable
matter.
The Claytronics Project
Carnegie Mellon University & Intel Research of Pittsburgh
Investigating ways to create a physical artifact using
programmable matter that will eventually be able to mimic
the original object’s shape, movement, visual appearance,
sound, and tactile qualities.
Catoms (Claytronic Atoms)
 Catoms can
Move in three dimensions in relation to other catoms.
Adhere to other catoms to maintain a 3D shape.
Communicate with other catoms in an ensemble.
Compute state information with possible assistance from other
catoms in the ensemble.
Ideal Catoms
A unit with a CPU, a network device, a single-pixel
display, one or more sensors, a means of locomotion,
and a mechanism for adhering to other catoms.
Catom Prototype
44 mm Catom Prototype:

24 electromagnets arranged in a pair of stacked rings.

To move, a pair of catoms in contact with one another pair
must appropriately energize the next set of magnets along
each of their circumferences.
100 ms to make a one-step move.
The Self-Assembly Project
Partnered with AutoDesk to represent
biomolecular self-assembly at the human scale.
Beakers filled with red, black, or white parts that
will transform into a unique molecule when energy
is applied.
 Biomolecular Self-Assembly
 3 Parts:
 Geometry – shape of each unit in a complete system.
 Attraction – each unit has patterns of elements that attract through positive and
negative interactions which provide auto-alignment.
 Energy – proper amount of energy to enable interactions to be made and to form
a complete assembly.
Biomolecular Self-Assembly…
Polio Virus

Step 1 Step 2 Result

Skylar Tibbits
Researcher & Architect Professor at MIT
Founded the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT
Focuses on developing programmable materials for the
human scale world.
Developing 4D Printing
Programmable Matter
Self Assembly
4D Printing
“The ability to program physical and biological
materials to change shape, change properties, and
compute outside of silicon based matter.”
-Skylar Tibbits

Goal: Take nano/biomolecular self-assembly and apply

to human scale in order to build infrastructure more
efficiently.
Technologies Used - Autodesk

 CAD program for designing 3D structures with the ability to transform.

Technologies Used - AutoDesk
Project Cyborg - a cloud-based meta-platform of design
tools for programming matter across domains and scales.
Domains range from nanoparticle design to tissue
engineering, to self-assembling human-scale
manufacturing.
Project Cyborg
Future Use

Expanding/Contracting Water Pipes (Geo Syntec)

Large scale construction in extreme environments
THANKYOU