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ESE 2024 Jack Keil Wolf Lecture – “Army of Ants: The Power of Working in Concert”

November 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Details
Date: November 15, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
  • Event Tags:
  • Organizer
    Electrical and Systems Engineering
    Phone: 215-898-6823
    Venue
    Glandt Forum, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street
    Philadelphia
    PA 19104
    Google Map

    Synchronized operation of a large number of similar entities can generate behavior that cannot be expected from single one. This principle combined with the physical concept of coherence in waves enables creation of programmable 3-dimensional focal points that can be used to enable many applications such as wireless energy transfer at distance on earth and even from space, flat lensless projectors and cameras, and various other present and future applications. It can manifest itself in the form of phased arrays and focusing arrays with an ensemble of synchronized wave generating or receiving elements. While the individual element behavior may be rather unremarkable, such systems can lead to rich and useful behaviors. We will go through a journey based on this principle and a progression of its potential applications in an increasing order of outlandishness.