The institute
FEMTO's news

You are here

Programmable matter: world record attempt

A FEMTO-ST research team is trying to get the record for the largest number of autonomous light blocks assembled in a structure approved by the "Guiness World Record".

For more than 10 years, the Department of Computer Science and Complex Systems  of the FEMTO-ST Institute (CNRS - UBFC - UFC - ENSMM - UTBM) in Montbéliard, has been working on the themes of distributed programming for modular systems.

This Friday, August 27, 2021, the team of professors and researchers behind the modular robots "Blinky Blocks" will attempt to set the record for the largest number of autonomous light blocks assembled in a structure, i.e. 1824 modules in the category of the largest object by size.

The communication between hundreds of independent modules highlights the progress made in the field of distributed programming for modular robotics, with the future goal of creating programmable matter.

This record attempt is part of the art and science partnership between the artist couple Scenocosme, which is realizing the interactive structure in Blinky Blocks, the FEMTO-ST laboratory, and the theater “MA scène nationale”, which is hosting the event in its digital stage on the campus in Montbéliard.

To validate the record, Simon Hauser, PhD in modular robotics, graduated from EPFL, will countcounted the quantity of individual blocks composing the structure, which light up autonomously, after receiving an external stimulation (finger tapping, sound, message from its neighbors). The dimensions of the structure are then recorded by Jean-Baptiste Rollin, an expert surveyor in Belfort, using a digital scanner. The whole process will take place under the watchful eye of Samuel Gomes, mayor of Badevel.

The Blinky Blocks are manufactured by the Tech Power Electronics group for the FEMTO-ST Institute. A block is made of two Lego-shaped plastic shells, screwed together. It contains magnets, a microcontroller, a microphone, a speaker, leds and pin connectors. The microcontroller is programmed by the Department of Computer Science and Complex Systems of the FEMTO-ST Institute.

More informations : Remy TRIBHOUT

  • Understanding energy transfers during photosynthesis

    Using three pigments manipulated by scanning tunneling microscopy, researchers from IPCMS and FEMTO-ST are studying energy transfers between molecules to gain a finer understanding of the photosynthesis mechanism in plants. This work is published in Nature Chemistry.

    Read more
  • International Day of Light on May 16th

    This year, the Student Chapter of FEMTO-ST organizes on this occasion a photo contest on the theme ′′ Light phenomena in everyday life ".

    Read more
  • AMAROB labelled Deep Tech company

    Spin off of FEMTO-ST, Amarob technologie has received the Deep Tech company label awarded by Bpifrance.

    Read more
  • New platform to support the design and optimization of fuel cell hybride system and battery

    Virtual FCS" is the first freely accessible online simulation platform to support fuel cell manufacturers and users.

     Supported by a European funding, "Virtual FCS" has for French partner the University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté through the FEMTO-ST institute and the FC-LAB

    Read more
  • ThermoBot : micro robots that walk on water

    Imagine, a robot, the size of a fly, walking on the surface of the water and pursued by a laser beam. One could believe in a science fiction scenario...

    Read more
  • Recognizing liars from the sound of their voice ?

    Scientists have prouved that the intensity, speed and pitch of the speaker's voice automatically influences our perception of the reliability and honesty of his or her speech. This work is published in the prestigious journal "Nature Communications"

    Read more
  • European project for the development of sustainable and high-performance bio-based composites

    Led by FEMTO-ST and supported by the University of Franche-Comté, the « SSUCHY » R&D project which brings together 17 European partners is entering its final phase. The project is now quite advanced.

    Read more
  • Understanding the cytotoxicity of metallic nanoparticles

    A recent study published in the journal "Chemical Science" and involving FEMTO-ST gives new insights into the understanding of the mechanisms of DNA alteration in cells by metallic nanoparticles.

    Read more
  • Artificial intelligence for next-generation ultrafast photonics

    How can machine learning and associated methods improve the development of next-generation laser sources and revolutionize applications where ultrafast light plays a central role?

    Read more
  • Strong involvement of FEMTO-ST in the H2020 project "PhotonHub Europe"

    The objective of this project is to help European SMEs to increase their competitiveness through photonics with a online guidance, which will offer the support of 54 leading competence centers in Europe, including FEMTO-ST, which is also the scientific coordinator at the national level.

    Read more

Pages