Programmable magnet

Article summary

Programmed magnets are magnetic structures that incorporate correlated patterns of magnets with alternating polarity, designed to achieve a desired behavior and deliver stronger local force. By varying the magnetic fields and strengths, different mechanical behaviors can be controlled. Correlated magnet pairs can be programmed to attract or repel with a prescribed force and engagement distance, or, to attract or repel at a certain spatial orientation. Correlated magnets can be programmed to interact only with other magnetic structures that have been coded to respond. Correlated magnets can even be programmed to attract and repel at the same time. Compared to conventional magnets, the correlated magnet provides much stronger holding force to the target and stronger shear resistance. The programmable behavior is achieved by creating multipole structures comprising multiple magnetic elements of varying size, location, orientation, and saturation. The sizes range . By overlapping, a very intricate magnetic field can be produced. There are four main functions that correlated magnets can achieve: align, attach, latch, and spring. Programmed magnets can be programmed, or coded, by varying the polarity and/or field strengths of each source of the arrays of magnetic sources that make up each structure.…

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