A couple of days ago, I saw an article on Popsci :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQf0qsRTsoA&feature=youtu.be. The video link shows a chain of motor modules that link together and rotate to create various shapes.
The approach was based on protein chains in living things that change shape to perform different functions. About a year ago, I saw an approach to this by modeling the modules after muscles and joints. The modules were plastic pouches attached together using plastic joints that could turn front, back, left, and right. the pouches had four sections each of which expanded or contracted when filled with air, similar to muscles. these air modules would turn in very rigid ways however, and used up a lot of power to pump air in. Sadly, I can not find the link for that video.
The approach that the video shows makes use rotating motors that require very little power to turn, and are much less rigid. The individual modules are rather large and clumsy, however if made smaller, without reducing the life of the motor, they could work. This also brings up the topic of nanotechnology. Yet a skeptical subject, nanotechnology makes use of microscopic modules either biotic or mechanical, to cure illness, fix computers, espionage; a plethora of theoretical uses. These large motor modules could make that sci-fi fantasy a reality.
Well why do we want these things in the first place? They seem expensive and crude, and wouldn't it be much easier just to make the things you want like we do now? I think that the answer comes down to standardization If everything was made of the same stuff, then one could have whatever he wanted, and the need to waste time and money to buy unnecessary items would go away. You could buy an oven, pull off a handle, and turn it into a blender! The problem of greed would end, because everyone would have everything they wanted.
The approach was based on protein chains in living things that change shape to perform different functions. About a year ago, I saw an approach to this by modeling the modules after muscles and joints. The modules were plastic pouches attached together using plastic joints that could turn front, back, left, and right. the pouches had four sections each of which expanded or contracted when filled with air, similar to muscles. these air modules would turn in very rigid ways however, and used up a lot of power to pump air in. Sadly, I can not find the link for that video.
The approach that the video shows makes use rotating motors that require very little power to turn, and are much less rigid. The individual modules are rather large and clumsy, however if made smaller, without reducing the life of the motor, they could work. This also brings up the topic of nanotechnology. Yet a skeptical subject, nanotechnology makes use of microscopic modules either biotic or mechanical, to cure illness, fix computers, espionage; a plethora of theoretical uses. These large motor modules could make that sci-fi fantasy a reality.
Well why do we want these things in the first place? They seem expensive and crude, and wouldn't it be much easier just to make the things you want like we do now? I think that the answer comes down to standardization If everything was made of the same stuff, then one could have whatever he wanted, and the need to waste time and money to buy unnecessary items would go away. You could buy an oven, pull off a handle, and turn it into a blender! The problem of greed would end, because everyone would have everything they wanted.
