Membrane Computing 15th International Conference, CMC 2014

TLDR: Amorphous computing systems typically consist of myriads of tiny simple processors that are randomly distributed at fixed positions or move randomly in a confined volume and are among the simplest (non-uniform) universal computational devices.

Abstract: Amorphous computing systems typically consist of myriads of tiny simple processors that are randomly distributed at fixed positions or move randomly in a confined volume. The processors are “embodied” meaning that each of them has its own source of energy, has a “body” equipped with various sensors and communication means and has a computational control part. Initially, the processors have no identifiers and from the technological reasons, in the interest of their maximal simplicity, their computational, communication, sensory and locomotion (if any) parts are reduced to an absolute minimum. The processors communicate wirelessly, e.g., in an airborne medium they communicate via a short-range radio, acoustically or optically and in a waterborne medium via molecular communication. In the extreme cases the computational part of the processors can be simplified down to probabilistic finite state automata or even combinatorial circuits and the system as a whole can still be made universally programmable. From the theoretical point of view the structure and the properties of the amorphous systems qualify them among the simplest (non-uniform) universal computational devices. From the practical viewpoint, once technology will enable a mass production of the required processors a host of new applications so far inaccessible to classical approaches to computing will follow. Extended Abstract: The history of amorphous computing systems began by the end of the twentieth century, mainly as an engineering endeavor (cf. [1], [2], [4], [5], [6], or [13]). Namely, in those days the progress in constructing the micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) has enabled to think of devices integrating a central data processing unit (the microprocessor) and several components that interact with the surroundings such as micro-sensors, wireless communication unit, and the energy source in a small unit. These parts can possibly be complemented by micro-actuators and locomotive means. The resulting device can be viewed as an embodied computational unit. Note that such a unit possesses all the necessary parts characterizing autonomous embodied robots. MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometres (20 × 10−6 m) to a millimetre (i.e. 0.02 to 1.0 mm). Current ideas about nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) and nano-technology consider such systems at a nano-scale (10−9 m). The driving force behind the respective development has mainly been a vision of huge amounts of the respective “micro-robots” engaged in various application tasks This work was partially supported by RVO 67985807 and the GA ČR grant No. P202/10/1333.