What you can see above is a simulation for the functioning of a robotic chain – a modular, self-reconfigurable system (yes, this is engineering jargon). Watch the numbers on the modules to understand how the row of automated “cubes” transforms itself into a column, without exterior intervention, supporting structures or movement guides.
After two years of research, we came up with an original design (WIPO patent pending) for a mechanism which transforms a single-source rotational motion into a polygonal trajectory (a square, in the case of Orbiting Cubes). For proving the mathematical solution and of the functioning of the basic “cell” – two cubes linked together – we manufactured a prototype which demonstrates the three unique features of our design:
- The whole mechanical assembly is contained entirely inside the modules.
- The modules preserve attitude (same horizontal / vertical) while performing the orbiting motion.
- There’s only one source of rotation generating the square output trajectory.