Rotary Electromechanical System Integrating Non‐Reciprocal Memory and Combinational Logic
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Recent advances in mechanical computing have harnessed bistable mechanisms with intrinsic memory to extend the scope of physically embodied intelligence, enabling history-dependent behavior. However, existing mechanical computing architectures largely fail to integrate mechanically encoded memory with the logic operations necessary for sequential information processing, a foundational requirement for advanced computational tasks, such as autonomous sequential decision-making. Here, we introduce a rotary electromechanical computing system that unifies non-reciprocal mechanical memory with combinational logic, enabling reprogrammable sequential decision-making within a single finite-state-machine (FSM) framework. The architecture consists of serially coupled rotary bistable units that collectively produce a history-dependent, non-reciprocal mechanical memory. The discrete geometric orientation of each unit encodes a binary state, which is transduced through a conductive network to execute logic operations. Under applied torque, the stacked system functions as a four-bit FSM, in which state-transition rules can be reconfigured by modifying the electromechanical coupling. This rotary FSM demonstrates multiple computing functionalities, including digital combination locking, in-memory electromechanical computation, and reprogrammable digital control. By embedding non-reciprocal state evolution and electrical logic directly into physical hardware, this work establishes a pathway toward physically embedded intelligence for next-generation electromechanical systems.
Source: Advanced Science
Authors: Shujia Chen, Don Straney, Damiano Pasini
Institution: McGill University
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,730
Awards: G121721171, G6085117006, G868889699
OpenAlex ID: W7125553673