16 research outputs found
Reflections on Tiles (in Self-Assembly)
We define the Reflexive Tile Assembly Model (RTAM), which is obtained from
the abstract Tile Assembly Model (aTAM) by allowing tiles to reflect across
their horizontal and/or vertical axes. We show that the class of directed
temperature-1 RTAM systems is not computationally universal, which is
conjectured but unproven for the aTAM, and like the aTAM, the RTAM is
computationally universal at temperature 2. We then show that at temperature 1,
when starting from a single tile seed, the RTAM is capable of assembling n x n
squares for n odd using only n tile types, but incapable of assembling n x n
squares for n even. Moreover, we show that n is a lower bound on the number of
tile types needed to assemble n x n squares for n odd in the temperature-1
RTAM. The conjectured lower bound for temperature-1 aTAM systems is 2n-1.
Finally, we give preliminary results toward the classification of which finite
connected shapes in Z^2 can be assembled (strictly or weakly) by a singly
seeded (i.e. seed of size 1) RTAM system, including a complete classification
of which finite connected shapes be strictly assembled by a "mismatch-free"
singly seeded RTAM system.Comment: New results which classify the types of shapes which can
self-assemble in the RTAM have been adde
The Complexity of Fixed-Height Patterned Tile Self-Assembly
We characterize the complexity of the PATS problem for patterns of fixed
height and color count in variants of the model where seed glues are either
chosen or fixed and identical (so-called non-uniform and uniform variants). We
prove that both variants are NP-complete for patterns of height 2 or more and
admit O(n)-time algorithms for patterns of height 1. We also prove that if the
height and number of colors in the pattern is fixed, the non-uniform variant
admits a O(n)-time algorithm while the uniform variant remains NP-complete. The
NP-completeness results use a new reduction from a constrained version of a
problem on finite state transducers.Comment: An abstract version appears in the proceedings of CIAA 201
Collaborative Computation in Self-Organizing Particle Systems
Many forms of programmable matter have been proposed for various tasks. We
use an abstract model of self-organizing particle systems for programmable
matter which could be used for a variety of applications, including smart paint
and coating materials for engineering or programmable cells for medical uses.
Previous research using this model has focused on shape formation and other
spatial configuration problems (e.g., coating and compression). In this work we
study foundational computational tasks that exceed the capabilities of the
individual constant size memory of a particle, such as implementing a counter
and matrix-vector multiplication. These tasks represent new ways to use these
self-organizing systems, which, in conjunction with previous shape and
configuration work, make the systems useful for a wider variety of tasks. They
can also leverage the distributed and dynamic nature of the self-organizing
system to be more efficient and adaptable than on traditional linear computing
hardware. Finally, we demonstrate applications of similar types of computations
with self-organizing systems to image processing, with implementations of image
color transformation and edge detection algorithms
Self-Assembly of 4-sided Fractals in the Two-handed Tile Assembly Model
We consider the self-assembly of fractals in one of the most well-studied
models of tile based self-assembling systems known as the Two-handed Tile
Assembly Model (2HAM). In particular, we focus our attention on a class of
fractals called discrete self-similar fractals (a class of fractals that
includes the discrete Sierpi\'nski carpet). We present a 2HAM system that
finitely self-assembles the discrete Sierpi\'nski carpet with scale factor 1.
Moreover, the 2HAM system that we give lends itself to being generalized and we
describe how this system can be modified to obtain a 2HAM system that finitely
self-assembles one of any fractal from an infinite set of fractals which we
call 4-sided fractals. The 2HAM systems we give in this paper are the first
examples of systems that finitely self-assemble discrete self-similar fractals
at scale factor 1 in a purely growth model of self-assembly. Finally, we show
that there exists a 3-sided fractal (which is not a tree fractal) that cannot
be finitely self-assembled by any 2HAM system
Mobile RAM and shape formation by programmable particles
In the distributed model Amoebot of programmable matter, the computational entities, called particles, are anonymous finite-state machines that operate and move on a hexagonal tessellation of the plane. In this paper we show how a constant number of such weak particles can simulate a powerful Turing-complete entity that is able to move on the plane while computing. We then show an application of our tool to the classical Shape-Formation problem, providing a new and much more general distributed solution. Indeed, while the existing algorithms allow to form only shapes made of arrangements of segments and triangles, our algorithm allows the particles to form also more abstract and general connected shapes, including circles and spirals, as well as fractal objects of non-integer dimension. In lieu of the existing impossibility results based on the symmetry of the initial configuration of the particles, our result provides a complete characterization of the connected shapes that can be formed by an initially simply connected set of particles. Furthermore, in the case of non-connected target shapes, we give almost-matching necessary and sufficient conditions for their formability
Non-cooperatively Assembling Large Structures
International audienceAlgorithmic self-assembly is the study of the local, distributed, asynchronous algorithms ran by molecules to self-organise, in particular during crystal growth. The general cooperative model, also called temperature 2, uses synchronisation to simulate Turing machines, build shapes using the smallest possible amount of tile types, and other algorithmic tasks. However, in the non-cooperative (temperature 1) model, the growth process is entirely asynchronous, and mostly relies on geometry. Even though the model looks like a generalisation of finite automata to two dimensions, its 3D generalisation is capable of performing arbitrary (Turing) computation [SODA 2011], and of universal simulations [SODA 2014], whereby a single 3D non-cooperative tileset can simulate the dynamics of all possible 3D non-cooperative systems, up to a constant scaling factor. However, the original 2D non-cooperative model is not capable of universal simulations [STOC 2017], and the question of its computational power is still widely open and it is conjectured to be weaker than temperature or its 3D counterpart. Here, we show an unexpected result, namely that this model can reliably grow assemblies of diameter with only n tile types, which is the first asymptotically efficient positive construction
The complexity of fixed-height patterned tile self-assembly
We characterize the complexity of the PATSproblem for patterns of fixed height and color count in variants of the model where seed glues are either chosen or fixed and identical (so-called non-uniform and uniform variants). We prove that both variants are NP-complete for patterns of height 2 or more and admit O(n)-time algorithms for patterns of height 1. We also prove that if the height and number of colors in the pattern is fixed, the non-uniform variant admits a O(n)-time algorithm while the uniform variant remains NP-complete. The NP-completeness results use a new reduction from a constrained version of a problem on finite state transducers.SCOPUS: cp.kinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe