North Carolina State University researchers have created a mechanical computer inspired by kirigami that uses interconnected polymer cubes to store, retrieve, and erase data without electronics. These cubes can convey more than binary code and have multiple stable states. The computer design is based on groups of 64 cubes connected with elastic tape that can be manipulated to edit data. The system could potentially be used for 3D encryption or decryption, offering a high information density. Researchers are interested in collaborating to explore coding possibilities and potential applications include haptic systems. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation and is published in the journal Science Advances.
https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/06/kirigami-mechanical-computer/