Abstract: Mechanisms can be designed to manage non-contact forces to reduce energy consumption and/or to control interactions between the parts. Management of non-contact forces is especially useful in micro-scale and nano-scale mechanisms, where van der Waals attraction between parts of the mechanism may be significant to the operation of the mechanism.

Abstract: Logic mechanisms operate to define the position of at least one mechanical output based on the position of two or more mechanical inputs, and employ at least one control element that functions to determine (at least in part) whether an output is moved, and which provides the same function in more than one position. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether a path to transmit motion to an output exists or does not exist. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether or not motion of a driven element can be accommodated without moving an output.

Abstract: Logic mechanisms operate to define the position of at least one mechanical output based on the position of at least one mechanical input. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether a path to transmit motion to an output exists or does not exist. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether or not motion of a driven element can be accommodated without moving an output. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether or not one or more elements are constrained to transmit motion to an output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.

Abstract: Devices, including robotic devices, operating in viscous fluid flow can use passive sensor data collected to represent fluid parameters at an instant in time to derive information about the flow, the motion and position of the device, and parameters of the physical system constraining the flow. Using quasi-static analysis techniques, and appropriate feature selection for machine learning, very accurate determinations can be made, generally in real time, with very modest computational requirements. These determinations can then be used to map systems, navigate devices through a system, or otherwise control the actions of, e.g., robotic devices for clean-up, leak detection, or other functions.

Abstract: A buffered cam assembly, which is particularly well-suited for use to provide a clock input for a mechanical computing system, interposes a buffer element between a cam surface and a follower. The buffer element engages the cam surface and acts to significantly reduce the effect of any irregularities in the cam surface on the resulting motion of the follower, allowing the output waveform of movement of the follower to more closely approximate an intended ideal output waveform.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for operating devices in diffusion-limited regimes, where diffusion rates are sufficiently low that device operation can be optimized by taking the rate of diffusion into account when directing devices what actions to take.

Abstract: Devices powered by fuel cells can be operated for extended durations when the fuel cells are adapted to extract the necessary reactants for generating power from the surrounding environment and when the concentration of reactants in that environment is maintained at a sufficient level by interaction between the environment and a reactant-enriched atmosphere.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and tools for the synthesis of atomically-precise products via mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including a set of atomically-precise tips and associated reactions, methods for determining build sequences for workpieces, exemplary build sequences, and methods for creating new reactions, build sequences, and tips.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for transmitting acoustic waves through a fluid medium to communicate between a macro-scale transceiver and micro-devices or to communicate between micro-devices. Acoustical transmission can be used to communicate data or to provide power to the micro-device(s). The ability to transmit and receive on multiple frequencies can optimize the transmission for a particular situation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating mechanical computing mechanisms and Turing-complete systems which include combinatorial logic and sequential logic, and which are energy-efficient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating mechanical computing mechanisms and Turing-complete systems which include combinatorial logic and sequential logic, and which are energy-efficient.

Abstract: Improved methods, systems and devices for mechanosynthesis, including those that involve the bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips on a presentation surface, and multiple tips used sequentially in a thermodynamic cascade. These improvements can simplify starting requirements, improve versatility, and reduce equipment and process complexity.

Abstract: Systems, methods and tools for the synthesis of products via mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including a set of atomically-precise tips and associated reactions, methods for determining build sequences for workpieces, exemplary build sequences, and methods for creating new reactions, build sequences, and tips.

Abstract: A buffered cam assembly, which is particularly well-suited for use to provide a clock input for a mechanical computing system, interposes a buffer element between a cam surface and a follower. The buffer element engages the cam surface and acts to significantly reduce the effect of any irregularities in the cam surface on the resulting motion of the follower, allowing the output waveform of movement of the follower to more closely approximate an intended ideal output waveform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating mechanical computing mechanisms and Turing-complete systems which include combinatorial logic and sequential logic, and which are energy-efficient.

Abstract: Devices powered by fuel cells can be operated for extended durations when the fuel cells are adapted to extract the necessary reactants for generating power from the surrounding environment and when the concentration of reactants in that environment is maintained at a sufficient level by interaction between the environment and a reactant-enriched atmosphere.