Programmable matter

In the past 50 years, computers have shrunk from room-size mainframes to lightweight handhelds. This fantastic miniaturization is primarily the result of high-volume nanoscale manufacturing. While this technology has predominantly been applied to logic and memory, it's now being used to create...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computer (Long Beach, Calif.) Calif.), 2005-05, Vol.38 (6), p.99-101
Main Authors: Goldstein, S.C., Campbell, J.D., Mowry, T.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-D graphics
Applied sciences
Assembly
catoms
Claytronics project
Collection
Computer programming
Electronics
Exact sciences and technology
invisible computing
Microbots
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectronic fabrication (materials and surfaces technology)
microrobot ensembles
Miniaturization
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanostructure
Nanotechnology
Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices
Weight reduction
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Description
Summary:In the past 50 years, computers have shrunk from room-size mainframes to lightweight handhelds. This fantastic miniaturization is primarily the result of high-volume nanoscale manufacturing. While this technology has predominantly been applied to logic and memory, it's now being used to create advanced microelectromechanical systems using both top-down and bottom-up processes. One possible outcome of continued progress in high-volume nanoscale assembly is the ability to inexpensively produce millimeter-scale units that integrate computing, sensing, actuation, and locomotion mechanisms. A collection of such units can be viewed as a form of programmable matter.
ISSN:0018-9162
1558-0814
DOI:10.1109/MC.2005.198