Mechanical Computing with Transmissive Snapping of Kirigami Shells

Abstract

Continuum shape‐morphing structures with the capability to encode memory and execute logic operations have garnered significant interest for the development of mechanical systems with embodied intelligence and soft robots. Achieving the integration of memory and computing within a mechanical system necessitates building blocks that possess a range of tunable, metastable states. Prior efforts have been dedicated to constructing mechanical memory and logic through the exploitation of snap‐through instabilities in multistable structures. Typically, the creation of each logic gate demands a distinct structural design. Here, presents an unconventional design strategy that leverages a single kirigami architecture to perform and switch between multiple fundamental logic operations. By utilizing the kirigami architecture as the fundamental element, mechanical signal transmission is demonstrated and half‐adder computations are performed. It is envisioned that this design strategy can be applied to a wide range of materials and structures, and reduce the complexity of developing materials systems with embodied intelligence.