Two Electromechanical Self-Assembling Systems

Self-assembling systems are of great interest in nanotechnology. Although the design of such systems can differ widely at nano and macro scales, certain design principles are invariant. Because of these similarities, investigating designs at multiple scales can generate insight and the cross-fertilization of ideas. Some of the earliest mechanical models of self-assembling systems were proposed by Penrose, Jacobson, and others in the 1950s, and some of these models were successfully implemented. Here we present the designs for two simple electromechanical self-assembling systems that can be constructed out of plastic, batteries and electromagnets. Our systems are designed through analogy to chemistry: electromagnetic forces model molecular bonding and complementary physical shapes model molecular structure. Physical implementation of these models require resources beyond what was available to the authors.