Non-reciprocal robotic metamaterials

Martin Brandenbourger, Xander Locsin, Edan Lerner and Corentin Coulais ()
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Martin Brandenbourger: Universiteit van Amsterdam
Xander Locsin: Universiteit van Amsterdam
Edan Lerner: Universiteit van Amsterdam
Corentin Coulais: Universiteit van Amsterdam

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Non-reciprocal transmission of motion is potentially highly beneficial to a wide range of applications, ranging from wave guiding to shock and vibration damping and energy harvesting. To date, large levels of non-reciprocity have been realized using broken spatial or temporal symmetries, yet mostly in the vicinity of resonances, bandgaps or using nonlinearities, thereby non-reciprocal transmission remains limited to narrow ranges of frequencies or input magnitudes and sensitive to attenuation. Here, we create a robotic mechanical metamaterials wherein we use local control loops to break reciprocity at the level of the interactions between the unit cells. We show theoretically and experimentally that first-of-their-kind spatially asymmetric standing waves at all frequencies and unidirectionally amplified propagating waves emerge. These findings realize the mechanical analogue of the non-Hermitian skin effect. They significantly advance the field of active metamaterials for non hermitian physics and open avenues to channel mechanical energy in unprecedented ways.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12599-3

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