Abstract
In this article, we describe the hardware and software
challenges involved in realizing Claytronics, a form of programmable matter made out of very large numbers-potentially millions-of submillimeter sized spherical robots. The goal of the claytronics project is to create ensembles of cooperating submillimeter robots, which work together to form dynamic 3D physical objects. For example, claytronics might be used in telepresense to mimic, with high-fidelity and in 3-dimensional solid form, the look, feel, and motion of the person at the other end of the telephone call. To achieve this long-range vision we are investigating hardware mechanisms for constructing submillimeter robots, which can be manufactured en masse using photolithography. We also propose the creation of a new media type, which we call pario. The idea behind pario is to render arbitrary moving, physical 3-dimensional objects that you can see, touch, and even hold in your hands. In parallel with our hardware effort, we are developing novel distributed programming languages and algorithms to control the ensembles, LDP and Meld. Pario may fundamentally change how we communicate with others and interact with the world around us. Our research results to date suggest that there is a viable path to implementing both the hardware and software necessary for claytronics, which is a form of programmable matter that can be used to implement pario. While we have made significant progress, there is still much research ahead in order to turn this vision into reality.
@article{goldstein09,
author = {Goldstein, Seth Copen and Mowry, Todd C. and Campbell,
Jason D. and Ashley-Rollman, Michael P. and De~Rosa, Michael and
Funiak, Stanislav and Hoburg, James F. and Karagozler, Mustafa
Emre and Kirby, Brian and Lee, Peter and Pillai, Padmanabhan and
Reid, J. Robert and Stancil, Daniel D. and Weller, Michael
Philetus},
title = {Beyond Audio and Video: Using Claytronics to Enable Pario},
journal = {AI Magazine},
year = {2009},
volume = {30},
number = {2},
month = {July},
keywords = {Claytronics},
abstract = {In this article, we describe the hardware and software
challenges involved in realizing Claytronics, a form of
programmable matter made out of very large numbers-potentially
millions-of submillimeter sized spherical robots. The goal of the
claytronics project is to create ensembles of cooperating
submillimeter robots, which work together to form dynamic 3D
physical objects. For example, claytronics might be used in
telepresense to mimic, with high-fidelity and in 3-dimensional
solid form, the look, feel, and motion of the person at the other
end of the telephone call. To achieve this long-range vision we
are investigating hardware mechanisms for constructing
submillimeter robots, which can be manufactured en masse using
photolithography. We also propose the creation of a new media
type, which we call pario. The idea behind pario is to render
arbitrary moving, physical 3-dimensional objects that you can
see, touch, and even hold in your hands. In parallel with our
hardware effort, we are developing novel distributed programming
languages and algorithms to control the ensembles, LDP and Meld.
Pario may fundamentally change how we communicate with others and
interact with the world around us. Our research results to date
suggest that there is a viable path to implementing both the
hardware and software necessary for claytronics, which is a form
of programmable matter that can be used to implement pario. While
we have made significant progress, there is still much research
ahead in order to turn this vision into reality.}
}
