Enabling sequential logic leveraging time delays of thin-walled soft matter

Abstract

Combinational logic is a common feature of modern engineered materials for general computation, but incorporating sequential logic is comparatively less advanced, which impedes further uses in environmental responses and adaptions. Sequential logic needs the history of the system outputs concomitantly with the present inputs, and we expect only one iteration of outputs and inputs for each operation. Thus, the main thrust of our research is to propose an original and general solution that utilizes the time delay effect of thin-walled soft matter inspired by origami structures to coordinate the work pace of the overall system. We create four basic sequential systems for ordered performance leveraging this device: a time delayer, a clock generator, a self-locking system (memory), and a pulse generator. Furthermore, we build five complex sequential systems based on the basic systems (a value assigner, a flip-flop, a shift register, a cycle shift register, and a counter). The novel contribution is making mechanical integrated circuit materials suitable for complex sequential control. Our approach is innovative, scalable to different sizes, and robust because it works only once after each input pulse. The inputs and outputs of our sequential systems can be force, light, or electricity for communication with other devices and general applicability.