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Doesn't sound like self-assembly to me - isn't that simply some magnetic particles sticking to a magnet (or as close to the magnet as possible)? Too bad the vid

by Tichy 15y ago

Doesn't sound like self-assembly to me - isn't that simply some magnetic particles sticking to a magnet (or as close to the magnet as possible)? Too bad the videos don't show the magnets involved.

FEBlog 15y ago
@Tichy That is correct, this doesn't seem to be the most advanced form of Self-assembly but it could be an important step towards making a system that, as a whole, is capable of Self-Reconfiguration (Self-assembly=>Self-Disassemble=> Self-assembly in to something new) Imagine a large number of basic building blocks, and a smaller numbers of of assemblers capable of moving the blocks around. The individual units would not be capable of Self-Reconfiguration but the system as a whole would be. It could transform it self from one state to another state by using the assemblers to move the building blocks around. To make the units capable of reconfiguration on their own or to build a system that is capable of reconfiguration is a fundamental question in the research field of Self-reconfiguring modular robotics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-reconfiguring_modular_robot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-reconfiguring_modular_robo...) that I find absolutely amazing and that are making great progress in research and where we are even starting to see some commercial products beginning to appear.
- Tichy 15y ago
  It looks like a neat technique, it just doesn't feel very self-assembly or even robotic to me. Maybe there is just not enough information in the article about what is really going on. Like what happens when one of the things turns into an "U" to wrap the item to move. Is there a magnet shaped like an U in the background? Or something more clever?
inportb 15y ago
Then, what is self-assembly to you?
- sp332 15y ago
  We were expecting robots that could assemble copies of themselves, not just robots that could only assemble themselves.
- Tichy 15y ago
  The "robots" would have to bring their own magnets - they should be able to assemble themselves without outside control.

by Tichy 15y ago

Doesn't sound like self-assembly to me - isn't that simply some magnetic particles sticking to a magnet (or as close to the magnet as possible)? Too bad the videos don't show the magnets involved.

FEBlog 15y ago

@Tichy That is correct, this doesn't seem to be the most advanced form of Self-assembly but it could be an important step towards making a system that, as a whole, is capable of Self-Reconfiguration (Self-assembly=>Self-Disassemble=> Self-assembly in to something new) Imagine a large number of basic building blocks, and a smaller numbers of of assemblers capable of moving the blocks around. The individual units would not be capable of Self-Reconfiguration but the system as a whole would be. It could transform it self from one state to another state by using the assemblers to move the building blocks around. To make the units capable of reconfiguration on their own or to build a system that is capable of reconfiguration is a fundamental question in the research field of Self-reconfiguring modular robotics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-reconfiguring_modular_robot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-reconfiguring_modular_robo...) that I find absolutely amazing and that are making great progress in research and where we are even starting to see some commercial products beginning to appear.

Tichy 15y ago
It looks like a neat technique, it just doesn't feel very self-assembly or even robotic to me. Maybe there is just not enough information in the article about what is really going on. Like what happens when one of the things turns into an "U" to wrap the item to move. Is there a magnet shaped like an U in the background? Or something more clever?

inportb 15y ago

Then, what is self-assembly to you?

sp332 15y ago
We were expecting robots that could assemble copies of themselves, not just robots that could only assemble themselves.
Tichy 15y ago
The "robots" would have to bring their own magnets - they should be able to assemble themselves without outside control.