EFRI-ODISSEI: Photomorphon networks: Intelligent shape changing structures

该项目的三个目标是展示光同构形子(智能材料的基本构件，它随光的变化而改变形状)，将光同构形子与光纤中的光互连，并使用相互连接的光同构形子来创造新型设备。就像赋予集成电路复杂功能的晶体管一样，与光相互连接的光同构将使光子电路具有非凡的能力。这种光同构网络中的每个元素既是传感器又是执行器，制造出一种变形材料，它可以根据外部刺激智能地改变形状。该项目正在从头开始开发具有增强的光机械响应的新材料，从新材料创建光仿射，并将这些整合在一起，探索变形材料的应用。应用包括触觉触觉和传感器，超智能活动纺织品，以及自适应可伸缩电子产品、天线和镜子。该项目的成果将是使今天无法想象的技术成为可能的科学和工程基础。正在开发一套工具来建立光同形波网络，并了解如何对它们进行编程。作为光同形振子装置的原理证明，该项目正在与医生合作制造一种用于脑深部刺激的光控电极定位器，目前该定位器正在进行临床试验，有望用于治疗帕金森氏症和阿尔茨海默氏症等神经疾病。专注于利用光将纤维弯曲成任意的空间曲线，是探索与ART联系的一个极好的范例。将艺术与软物质科学联系起来，吸引好奇和有创造力的年轻学生探索体现艺术和科学结合的令人兴奋的新研究。该项目由国家科学基金会和美国空军科学研究办公室联合资助。

The three goals of this project are to demonstrate a photomorphon (the basic building block of a smart material that changes shape in response to light), to interconnect photomorphons with light in optical fibers, and to use interconnected photomorphons to create novel devices. Like the transistor, which endows integrated circuits with complex functionality, photomorphons interconnected with light will make photonic circuits with exceptional capabilities. Each element within such a photomorphon network is both a sensor and an actuator, making a morphing material that intelligently changes shape in response to external stimuli. This project is working from the ground up to develop new materials with enhanced photomechanical response, creating photomorphons from the new materials, and integrating these to explore applications enabled by morphing materials. Applications include tactile haptics and sensors, ultra-smart active textiles, and adaptive stretchable electronics, antennas and mirrors.The fruits of this project will be the scientific and engineering foundations that enable technologies that are unimaginable today. A tool-set is being developed to build photomorphon networks and to understand how to program them. As proof-of-principle of a photomorphon device, this project is collaborating with physicians to make a light-actuated electrode positioner to be used for deep brain stimulation, which is currently in clinical trials and hold great promise for treatment of neural diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The focus on using light to bend fibers into arbitrary space curves is an excellent paradigm for exploring the connections with art, and connecting art with soft-matter science in a way that will attract curious and creative young students to explore exciting new research embodying the union of art and science.This project is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research.