These smart bricks know what object they make up
Collectively intelligent bricks figure out if they’re in a boat, chair or guitar
Mimicking the self-organization of living cells, researchers have developed "smart bricks" that can identify the object they are part of, such as a boat, chair, or guitar. These bricks, created as simulations and later tested in reality, are made up of independently operated neural networks housed within individual cubes. By sharing information with their neighbors, the cubes, or "bricks," form what is known as a neural cellular automaton, allowing them to collectively determine their category with high accuracy.
The research, published in Nature Communications, has potential applications in self-healing circuits, self-assembling robots, and edutainment, such as building a dinosaur that roars. The technique could enable machines to repair themselves and adapt to damage in real-time, leading to more robust and efficient systems.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
