Researchers use smart rubber structures to carry out computational tasks in absence of power supply

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-05-smart-rubber-tasks.html

"slender rubber elements as mechanical bits assembled as metamaterial, by controlling interactions between individual bits... rubber computer acting as 2-bit binary counter whereby stretching metamaterial counts from "00" to "11", and back to "00" by releasing... pre-curved rubber beams as mechanical bits mediating interactions by connecting them, storing and processing information... more complex working 3-bit system performing 17 different simple calculations, replicating turnstile, combination lock, vending machine"

Related: Engineers make tunable, shape-changing metamaterial inspired by vintage toys
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-tunable-metamaterial-vintage-toys.html