Microelectronic Morphogenesis: Progress towards Artificial Organisms

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in microelectronic morphogenesis, highlighting how information-controlled shape-changing materials can lead to artificial organisms with life-like properties such as self-maintenance, self-containment, and self-reproduction.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of using electronic information to enable life-like capabilities in microelectronic materials, paving the way for artificial organisms through modular design and self-assembly.

Findings

Progress in shape-changing microelectronic materials.

Development of error correction in self-assembly.

Potential for life-like properties in artificial systems.

Abstract

Microelectronic morphogenesis is the creation and maintenance of complex functional structures by microelectronic information within shape-changing materials. Only recently has in-built information technology begun to be used to reshape materials and their functions in three dimensions to form smart microdevices and microrobots. Electronic information that controls morphology is inheritable like its biological counterpart, genetic information, and is set to open new vistas of technology leading to artificial organisms when coupled with modular design and self-assembly that can make reversible microscopic electrical connections. Three core capabilities of cells in organisms, self-maintenance (homeostatic metabolism utilizing free energy), self-containment (distinguishing self from non-self), and self-reproduction (cell division with inherited properties), once well out of reach for technology, are now within the grasp of information-directed materials. Construction-aware electronics can be used to proof-read and initiate game-changing error correction in microelectronic self-assembly. Furthermore, non-contact communication and electronically supported learning enable one to implement guided self-assembly and enhance functionality. This article reviews the fundamental breakthroughs that have opened the pathway to this prospective path, analyzes the extent and way in which the core properties of life can be addressed and discusses the potential and indeed necessity of such technology for sustainable high technology in society.