In a story titled: Attack of the killer prototype robots; CNET writes:
"Intel is trying to see if millions of tiny robots can work together to create a coffee cup, or a model of a truck.[think from Rapid Prototyping to Instant Prototyping-wd]
Intel's lab in Pittsburgh, affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University, is showing off a technology concept at the Intel Developer Forum here this week called Dynamic Physical Rendering, which could ultimately lead to a shape-shifting fabric.
Apply the right voltage and software program and the flat piece of fabric turns into a 3D model of a car. Change those parameters and it transforms into a cube. Dynamic Physical Rendering has grown out of the ongoing Claytronics project headed up by CMU professor Seth Goldstein.
"Rather than look at a 3D model on a CAD (computer-aided design) program, a physical model would be manifested on your desk," said Babu Pillai, who, along with Jason Campbell, is heading up the project. "The material would change shape under software control."
The trick is that the fabric would not be a continuous piece of material. Instead, it would be composed of millions of independent silicon spheres covered in electronic actuators--half-capacitors or electromagnets. By applying charges to different actuators, different points on the sphere would be repelled or attracted to similar points on other spheres. The coordinated movement of the spheres would then cause the fabric to assume a shape.
ETA: 2008-2010
The intelligent fabric doesn't exist yet, but Intel has created prototypes of the components that make up intelligent fabric.
Full story here>> [...]
see related approach to shapeshifting: Active, smart materials that morph leads to large-scale structural seamless morphing: cars, boats and planes that change shape
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