Programmable materials can now shape-shift with the push of a button

Programmable materials can now shape-shift with the push of a button

Subject: Science and Technology

Section :Msc

Context: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials (CPM), developed programmable materials and plans to bring them to the market with the help of industry partners.

About Programmable Materials:

• Programmable matter is matter which has the ability to change its physical properties (shape, density, moduli, conductivity, optical properties, etc.) in a programmable fashion, based upon user input or autonomous sensing.
• Programmable matter is thus linked to the concept of a material which inherently has the ability to perform information processing.
• Programmable materials are true shape-shifters. They can change their characteristics in a controlled and reversible way with the push of a button, independently adapting to fit new conditions.
• Programmable materials have the potential to initiate a paradigm change when handling materials because they replace technical systems consisting of many components and materials with a single, locally configured system. They thus allow smaller system sizes and reduce the complexity of the whole system as well as the dependability of large infrastructures.
• Materials used: These include self-transforming carbon fiber, printed wood grain, custom textile composites and other rubbers/plastics, which offer unprecedented capabilities including programmable actuation, sensing and self-transformation, from a simple material.
• Approaches:
  • Programming could be external to the material and might be achieved by the application of light, voltage, electric or magnetic fields, etc. For example, a liquid crystal display is a form of programmable matter.
  • The individual units of the ensemble can compute and the result of their computation is a change in the ensemble’s physical properties. An example of this programmable matter is claytronics.
• Application: It is used in special applications such as medical mattresses, comfortable chairs, variable damping shoe soles, and protective clothing. Gradually they can be used everywhere, from medicine and sporting goods to soft robotics and even space research.