Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed a new class of metamaterials that can learn to change shape, adapt their behavior, and even move without a central controller.
Unlike conventional materials that respond in fixed ways to external forces, these engineered systems behave more like living matter.
They can adjust their responses based on past interactions, allowing them to perform tasks that typically require programmed robots.
The materials are built as chains of identical motorized hinges connected by an elastic structure. Each hinge contains a microcontroller that tracks its own movement, stores past states, and communicates with neighboring units.
This distributed setup allows the material to coordinate its behavior locally, rather than relying on a single control system. Over time, the structure learns how to respond to inputs by adjusting how each hinge moves and interacts.
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