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Researchers have build a mechanical computer inspired by kirigami , the Nipponese artistry of paper - folding and press clipping .
The proof - of - construct computer , which includes no electronic constituent , has 64 interlink , 0.06 cubic column inch ( 1 three-dimensional centimeter ) polymer cube that can be rearrange to salt away , retrieve and erase data . Similar to kirigami , where paper is cut and folded into intricate invention , the computer can be physically manipulated into dissimilar shape and states .
In this machine , each square block represents a bit of binary information , which can be labour up or down to represent 1 or 0 , respectively . rearrange the cube change the computer ’s configuration , enable information to be stored or represent in physical var. .
The scientists said the concept could be used to make physical encryption - decoding systems , or even develop touch - based systems for 3D environment .
" For example , a specific shape of functional units could serve as a 3D password , " lead report authorYanbin Li , a postdoctoral research worker at North Carolina State University ’s College of Engineering , tell ina statement . " We ’re also interested in exploring the potential public-service corporation of these metastructures to create haptic systems that expose info in a three - dimensional linguistic context , rather than as pixels on a blind . "
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The researchers published their research June 26 in the journalScience Advances .
Mechanical reckoner date back centuries — potentiallyas early as the second century B.C. — long before the design of algorithm andprogramming languagesas we know them today . Unlike this new kirigami - inspire conception , however , people operate these machine with gears or lever , get them extremely clunky .
In the new computer , changing the view of one square block changes the position of all connected cubes — spay the computer ’s configuration to agree with different computational states .
" Using a binary framework — where cubes are either up or down — a simple metastructure of 9 operative units has more than 362,000 possible configurations , " Li enunciate .
Data editing is control by pulling on the edges of the metastructure , which stretches elastic mag tape and pushes the block up or down . When the tape is released , it locks the cubes , and the data point , in place . The cubes can also be push up or down remotely by attach a magnetic scale to the computer and apply a magnetic field .
The researchers said the system could allow for more complex computing beyond binary code , with cube able of occupying states of not just 1 or 0 but 2 , 3 and 4 .
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" Each operational social unit of 64 cubes can be configured into a wide variety of architectures , with cubes stacked up to five cubes mellow , " study co - authorJie Yin , an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace applied science at NC State , said in the financial statement . " This allows for the development of computing that extend well beyond binary code . "
Next , the research worker hope to team up up with programmers to develop code for the computer . " Our test copy - of - concept work here demonstrates the possible range of these architectures , but we have not developed code that capitalizes on those architecture , " Li say . " We ’d be interested in collaborating with other researchers to search the gull voltage of these metastructures . "
