St Olaf College
The innovation is based on using the physical properties of materials, such as their ability to retain information about past physical changes, rather than electronic circuits or chips.
A team of US researchers has developed an unconventional computing system made entirely of springs and steeldemonstrating that basic computing tasks can be performed without electricity or traditional silicon chips.
The project, led by scientists at St. Olaf College and Syracuse University, introduces a mechanical approach to computing that based on the physical properties of materials instead of electronic circuits. Their findings were in the journal Nature Communications.
Unlike conventional computers, which rely on electrical signals and energy sources, this system uses the natural “memory” of materialssuch as the ability to retain information about past physical changes. For example, materials like rubber can “remember” how they were stretched or compressed. The research team explored whether such properties could be harnessed not only to store information, but also to process it.
According to Joey Paulsen, associate professor of Physics at St. Olaf College, the idea came from observing the behavior of everyday materials. “Many materials retain memory of past movements,” he explained, adding that the team wanted to see if this could be translated into computing.
To test the concept, the researchers built three mechanical devices using springs and steel bars. Each performs a distinct computational function: one acts as a counter that records the number of physical pulls, another functions as a logic gate capable of distinguishing between odd and even inputs, and a third functions as a sensor that retains information about the applied force. Together, these components demonstrate that logical operations and memory storage can be accomplished through motion and tension alone, explains .
While the idea may seem retrograde in an era dominated by ever-smaller microchips, the implications can be far-reaching. Traditional silicon-based electronics are vulnerable to extreme conditions, including high temperatures, radiation and corrosive environments. Mechanical computing systems, on the other hand, could operate reliably in environments where electronic devices would fail.
Potential applications include battery-free prosthetic limbs that respond to pressureor sensors embedded in machines such as jet engines that monitor wear through vibrations. Research also contributes to the development of so-called “smart materials”, capable of detecting, processing and responding to the environment that surrounds them without external energy.
The technology is still in its early stages and researchers are now working to expand the system. Ongoing experiments aim to link multiple mechanical components into more complex networks, potentially paving the way for more advanced, electricity-free computing systems.
