Topological solitons are unique waves or dislocation that exhibit the characteristics of a particle. Their ability to move around yet maintain their shape and position without vanishing makes them behave differently from a ripple on the surface of a pond. A recent study highlights the intriguing behavior of topological solitons in a robotic metamaterial, hinting at potential applications in controlling robotic movements and their responses to their environment.
The concept of topological solitons extends to various realms and scales. For instance, they appear in the format of twists in coiled telephone cords, large molecular structures like proteins, and at a vastly different scale, as black holes in the fabric of spacetime are considered topological solitons. Such solitons hold significance in biological systems, influencing protein folding and cellular or organ morphogenesis.
Characterising topological solitons specifically get intriguing when tied with non-reciprocal interactions. According to Jonas Veenstra, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam, non-reciprocal interactions imply that the interaction between two agents (A and B) is not symmetric. It means that agent A’s reaction to B will not be the same as B’s reaction to A.
In interactional physics, non-reciprocal interactions are typically ignored despite their prevalent occurrence in society dynamics and complex living systems. Veenstra contends that these interactions can only exist in systems out of equilibrium. The introduction of non-reciprocal interactions in materials can enable the blurring of boundaries between materials and machines and form animate or 'living' materials.
Researchers at the Machine Materials Laboratory, specialising in creating metamaterials, have decided to study the dynamics between non-reciprocal interactions and topological solitons. The robot-friendly metamaterial constructed by the researchers consists of rotating rods connected through elastic bands and a motor which exerts varying forces depending on their interaction with neighbouring rods. These rods prefer either left or right orientation due to the placement of magnets.
Topological solitons in this metamaterial exist at the intersection of left- and right-rotated sections of the chain, leading to the creation of anti-solitons. Interestingly, once the motors are turned on, the solitons and anti-solitons slide along the chain in the same direction. Thus, a soliton moving along the metamaterial sets up the chain for an anti-soliton to proceed in the same direction, leading to a looping domino effect in the metamaterial chain without the need to reset.
Understanding the behaviour of non-reciprocal driving can lead to advancements in controlling solitons to different kinds of waves or even give metamaterial basic information processing abilities such as filtering. Furthermore, future robots can leverage the topological solitons for functionalities like movement, communication and environmental sensing, decentralising control from a single point to cumulative active parts.
In conclusion, the cascading effect of solitons in metamaterials, which currently serves as a subject of study, may soon be incorporated in various fields of engineering and design.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original source can be found on ScienceDaily.
