The dynamic response of elastic structures
can be very complex; surprising us with instabilities, parametric
resonances and chaotic dynamics. This complexity is responsible for
unpredictable failure mechanisms and numerical modelling challenges. But
could we use the richness of behaviour to our advantage? Can we design
structures that solve problems using solid mechanics instead of
electronics and software? In this talk, I will show two examples of our
recent work in elastic structures with intelligent responses. First, I
will present a passive structure that recognises spoken commands, built
by implementing machine-learning models in networks of elastic
resonators. Such structure can detect relevant events (e.g. someone
saying ‘OK Google’) while consuming zero standby power, opening the door
to smart devices (pacemakers, sensors, smart speakers) that do not
require batteries to operate. Second, I will show a mass-spring system
that executes an algorithm to find the exit of a maze, generated
automatically from from a text description of the desired behaviour —
written in a ‘mechanical programming language’. Such structure could one
day form the basis for smart robots with no control electronics. A
strong point of intelligent elastic structures is their high energy
efficiency. At the microscopic scale, thermodynamics restricts the
computations that we can we perform, given a fixed amount of input
energy. To conclude the talk, I will briefly show our recent simulations
on the scaling-down of elastic intelligent structures. Our result
suggests that, while regular electronic computers consume around four
orders of magnitude more power than fundamentally necessary, the
thermodynamically-limited regime may be accessible to smart elastic
structures within the capabilities of current fabrication technology.
While mechanical forms of information technology will most likely not
replace electronics in general purpose computers, the ability to
function without a battery, transducers or toxic materials makes
intelligent mechanics a promising solution for a remarkable number of
problems and use cases — such as implantable sensors, zero-power IoT
devices and other power or size constrained applications.
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