Control of Hyperplastic Chemomechanical Materials
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research is to create autonomous, programmable active materials engineered using reaction-diffusion principles. Our short-term objectives are to address the problem of design, fabrication, characterization, modeling and control of a synthetic ÒneuronalÓ architecture that carries out analogous functions to the autonomous central nervous system. A bioinspired example is the sinuous motion of a lamprey, in which neurons running down opposite sides of the spinal column are excited in sequence causing the musculature to contract, thereby propelling the lamprey. The spatiotemporal pattern of neurons firing is a dynamical attractor and changes in motion, such as swimming forward or backward, are accomplished by switching the neurons from one attractor to another. The ultimate goal of this research is to elucidate the fundamental physical, chemical and engineering principles necessary to make nonliving materials that possess these properties of living matter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1610094
Entities
People
- Seth Fraden
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Brandeis University
- United States Army