From Molecular Robotics to Molecular Cybernetics: The First Step Toward Chemical Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Molecular Cybernetics" is an emerging research field aiming the development of "Chemical AI", artificial intelligence with memory and learning capabilities based on molecular communication. It is originated from "Molecular Robotics," which studies molecular systems that comprise of the three basic elements of robots; Sensing, Planning, and Acting. Development of an Amoeba-type molecular robot (unicellular artificial cell,) motivated the construction of multicellular artificial cell systems mimicking nerve systems. The major challenges in molecular cybernetics are molecular communication over two lipid-bilayer compartments, amplification of molecular information in a compartment, and large deformation of the compartment triggered by molecular signal, etc. Recently reported molecular devices and systems that contributes to the realization of Chemical AI are overviewed.

Collective Molecular Machines: Multidimensionality and Reconfigurability

“…These are feasible not only for the design of responsive materials but also for the design of swarms to achieve multi-dimensional collective behavior from 1 to 4D similar to that of micro/nanorobots. In particular, molecular machines are able to utilize the precise pairing of DNA to generate collective processors, which is not the case with micro/nano robots [223]. This property can be used to construct heterogeneous swarms that mimic the compartmentalization of cells or pipelining to achieve an efficient and organic whole over the swarms.…”