This National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Federal Grant Program (CFDA 47.070) award of $194,957 to the University of Massachusetts Lowell supports research into reconfiguration algorithms for programmable matter. Programmable matter refers to materials that can change their physical properties on demand, with a promising implementation using modular robots that can attach, detach, communicate, and move relative to each other. This allows the system to adapt to different situations and perform new tasks, and provides resilience through interchangeable and replaceable modules. The research will develop new algorithms and adapt existing techniques to more realistic models, advancing the state-of-the-art in this computationally challenging area. The project also proposes a survey to disseminate knowledge to other fields beyond computational geometry. The award period runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.
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