Metamaterial Marvel: Kirigami Cubes Unlock the Future of Mechanical Computing

Researchers have developed a novel mechanical computer inspired by kirigami, utilizing interconnected polymer cubes for data storage without electronics.

This system allows for multiple stable states, enhancing binary computing to potentially include additional data states. The design, leveraging the principles of kirigami, enables complex data storage and computation structures with practical applications in mechanical encryption and haptic systems.

Mechanical Computing Innovation
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a kirigami-inspired mechanical computer that uses a complex structure of rigid, interconnected polymer cubes to store, retrieve, and erase data without relying on electronic components. The system also includes a reversible feature that allows users to control when data editing is permitted and when data should be locked in place. The system is described in a paper, “Reprogrammable and Reconfigurable Mechanical Computing Metastructures with Stable and High-Density Memory” that was published today (June 26) in the open-access journal Science Advances.