Abstract
Abstract Self-organization is a phenomenon found in
biomolecular self-assembly by which proteins are
spontaneously driven to assemble and attain various
functionalities. This study reports on self-organized
behavior in which distributed centimeter-sized modules
stochastically aggregate and exhibit a translational
wheeling motion. The system consists of two types of
centimeter-sized water-floating modules: a
triangular-shaped module that is equipped with a
vibration motor and a permanent magnet (termed the
active module), which can quasi-randomly rove around;
and circular modules that are equipped with permanent
magnets (termed passive modules). In its quasi-random
movement in water, the active module picks up passive
modules through magnetic attraction. The contacts
between the modules induce a torque transfer from the
active module to the passive modules. This results in
rotational motion of the passive modules. As a
consequence of the shape difference between the
triangular module and the circular module, the passive
modules rotate like wheels, being kept on the same
edges as the active module. The motion of the active
module is examined, as well as the characteristics and
behavior of the self-organization process.
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