CORRELATED ELECTROMAGNET ARRAY SELECTED AS INDUSTRY GAME-CHANGER

[txlibdem]

Programmable magnets is about to change the way we manufacture products, the way we get around and transport goods: hatches for space ships that never touch each other, prosthetics ball joints, sports-equipment clasps and maglev-train hardware, according to the company. The company is licensing the new patented technology, so these magnets could conceivably turn up almost anywhere, especially in niche markets such as NASA hardware and military gear.

The newly patented idea from CMR employs a surface array of electromagnets, a control system to vary the polarity of individual electromagnet elements in time, and a free-moving object programmed to attach precisely using correlated magnetics technology.

Using the control system to create and then “move” a pattern by discreet steps through the electromagnet array, the coded magnet device will correlate with (and bind to) the moving magnetic field pattern as shown in Figure-1. In this manner, objects can be transported from one point to another without mechanical means. The array can be any size and the surface can be arbitrary. Manufacturing and complex assembly operations that rely on robotic positioning and transport systems can deploy those systems in the vertical dimension or even make use of ceiling space.

“Manufacturing automation and mechanization is an obvious application for correlated magnetics enabled by electromagnet arrays,” said correlated magnetics inventor and CMR CEO Larry Fullerton. “Prior to this, we have shown - with permanent magnets - the precision alignment control and benefits in tensile and shear strength for coupling correlated magnetic devices. Now, with a software-controlled electromagnet array, we can add the time dimension and substantially extend the capabilities of our technology.”

http://www.correlatedmagnetics.com/News031411.html

One thing that makes these programmable magnets unique is that they can change on the fly by applying an electric field, or if they are manufactured with a high heat process they can be permanently imprinted with any of thousands of magnetic patterns. I'll guarantee that we'll be hearing a whole lot more about this in the future.

The US Society of Manufacturing Engineers have voted self assembling with programmable magnets as one of the top 2011 manufacturing innovations.

Simply printed with multiple poles such magnets offer many applications, from precision switches, a new generation of fasteners, robots scaling walls without touching them, snowboard bindings, spinal implants and on the joints of furniture or toys that click together only when correctly aligned.

The company behind the magnetics is Correlated Magnetics Research, itself a subsidiary of Cedar Ridge Research and it offers, rapid assembly/disassembly, automation enablement, child safety, mechanical energy store, pointing and alignment, rare earth multiplier, not to forget magnetic field imaging.

http://www.computescotland.com/2011-manufacturing-inventions-watch-list-4114.php

For you doubters out there, here is a short very simple video showing how a magnetic array can cause a thing to move:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9mYO71ZW7c&feature=related
... realize that what CMR are doing is light years ahead of this but it gets the idea across.


Does anybody remember the movie Minority Report (or was it iRobot)? The cars seemed to be propelled down the road via magnetic propulsion on spherical wheels, then when he arrived at his building the car would change configuration so it could climb up the side of his building and let him out right at his apartment? Well, programmable magnets would make both those things possible.

[phantom power]

1. this capability does seem like a big deal

[txlibdem]

2. It's such a simple principle, so says scientists who've looked into it

I'll have to take their word for that.

That would be pretty wild to be able to have the road magnetized in such a way that it just pushes your vehicle along.

[Nihil]

3. Fascinating ...

Even after mentally scaling back the hype from the parent company,
it is an interesting technology with a hell of a lot of potential.

Thanks for posting!

:toast:

[txlibdem]

4. Thanks. I have a feeling we'll be talking about this technology for a LONG time to come

The patent owner plans to license the technology so they don't have the usual limitations of finding skilled labor, building facilities, raising capital, etc.

Programmable magnets could take over so many things from transportation to electronics to door locks to space and military applications. The part about the ability to program the distance between the magnets at maximum attraction so they could be used for all kinds of things, not the least of which is magnetic levitation trains and space launch vehicles.

PS, skilled labor actually means skilled labor, not the BS the PUKES are spouting that actually translates to "whoever will do the job for nothing."