Researchers from the Department of Precision Instrument and Mechanology will help the NOKIA Company finish a design of hardware enablers for future mobile communication devices during one-year project. And the project is to explore the enabling HW technologies for future mobile communication device concepts, with the focuses on the flexibility, biominicry, and modularization. This is to be done with soft-mechanics inspired by nature’s designs and electro-mechanics integration as the key technologies. Soft-mechanics could be instrumental for providing soft interaction between machines and humans, while electro-mechanics integration enables a novel approach to create highly functional, tiny terminals.

2 The research drivers

Future mobile communication devices will have more functions packed in small size and they are going to be used for communication, information searching and browsing as a natural extension of human capabilities in everyday life. One of the key drivers for future mobile devices is to enable drastic change of the physical appearance of mobile terminals to soft and comfortable human centered devices with totally new product category possibilities. The modularization of main components and flexible connectivity will enable the adaptability to different user group needs and allow the freedom to use and transport the device in most convenient way.

2.1 Background

Some researcher said that as mobile phones become more like handheld computers and consumers spend as much as 8 to 10 hours a day talking, text and using the Web on these devices. Future mobile communication devices will have more functions packed in small size and they are going to be used for communication, information searching and browsing as a natural extension of human capabilities in everyday life. For most of us, a mobile phone is an instrument to talk with other people. Fogg, who directs the Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab at the Center for the Study of Language and Information, says that in a decade, mobile phones and other portable devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs) will become a more important platform for persuasion than television is right now. Mobile phones are also a special kind of computer, and a very interesting type when it comes to persuasion. What enables cell phones and other mobile devices to be so effective in persuading people is that they travel with us all the time. It has to be a device you can carry with you without inconveniencing yourself—something like a laptop is portable, but not mobile. You can't really carry your laptop with you anywhere, whereas a mobile phone you can put it in your pocket and forget it's there. Besides, the device has to be interactive to be able to persuade. It is desirable for the gadget to connect with the Internet. Because mobile devices are with us all the time, it's such a tight relationship that it's very much like a marriage. In fact, you probably spend more time with your mobile phone than with your marriage partner. People more and more are seeing their cell phones and PDAs as an extension of their bodies and as instruments to help them achieve their goals. That means companies that in the near future will want to advertise on mobile devices will have to be careful about the kind of approach they make to potential costumers. One of the key drivers for future mobile devices is to enable drastic change of the physical appearance of mobile terminals to soft and comfortable human centered devices with totally new product category possibilities. Although the current cell phones have diversified shape, size and color, etc, with the limited of machine technology, the structure of the devices still just confines at square or circle types that based on sense of vision, especially the size and degree of freedom are suffering the limit of current joint and can’t get the breakthrough development. In market or the concept phone, only three main movements except the candy bar, there’re clamshell, rotary and slide.[1]

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Fig. 1 The sketch of clamshell type cell phone structure

For clamshell type cell phone, put the screen on one part and the key board on another, avoiding arranging alongside and minishing the length of the phone. The two parts link with FPC (flexible printed circuit board, FPC) and the opening angle is general at 160 or so. Obviously, the structure of the hinge limited the opening angle and the size of the phone. The type of communication between two parts is another problem for secular fold. And the rotary type has the similar structure and problems. See Fig. 1. [1] The slide type cell phone has rail and slide piece between two parts. The screen and main part or the key board and main part can opposite move. Because of the rail and slide block, the weakness of this kind of phone is the thickness. See Fig. 2.[1]

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Fig. 2 The sketch of slide type cell phone structure

Also, along with the functions and structures of communication devices continuously perfect, make people producing two kinds of contradictory requests to the development of the future mobile communication devices. One is as simple as possible to only have easy communication function, while the other is to integrate as many function as possible. It is easy to see that there are disharmonic contradiction convenience and function versatility. Recent developments in the area of fabrication techniques offer the opportunity to create a large variety of functional devices (e.g., phone, video, net, and the control for personal date). Practical applications require integration of such devices into compact and robust system. At the same time, current mobile communication devices do not grab our attention in a socially appropriate way. They could be disrespectful of ongoing social activity such as an important meeting or private dinner. Our mobile device not only lack the capabilities to interact with us in a social manner, but also don’t help us to integrate the two facets of communication, communication with co-located people and telecommunication with remote people using mobile devices. Instead, mobile calls interrupt us at inappropriate times, such as during public performances, during important conversations with our superiors, etc. This is not acceptable for obvious reasons. Although modern communication devices allow us to set manually profiles for certain situations and caller groups, many still give us only the option to control our accessibility in a binary way—switch the phone off, or leave it on. This results in an unacceptable and frustrating trade-off between not being disturbed and possibly missing a call (as well as upsetting a caller) versus not missing any calls and being possibly unnecessarily disturbed (and upsetting our co-located conversation partners). It is exactly for those situations—where interruption should only happen if appropriate—that we need communication devices that have (hopefully at least) a small idea about what is going on in our lives, or in other words, have some human style “smarts” built-in. Bionics seeks to transcend our biological nature by replacing biological parts with artificial parts ("deflesh"), or by translating the human mind into information in a computer (Uploading). These processes are naturally highly speculative so far, since we are still far from this technological level. However, in the field of connecting artificial limbs and other systems to nerves, some promising advances have already happened or seem probable in the near future. Biomimetics, also known as Bionics ( a term coined by an American air force officer in 1958), Biognosis, and Biomimicry, has been applied to a number of fields from political science to car design to computer science (cybernetics, swarm intelligence, artificial neurons and artificial neural networks are all derived from biomimetic principles). Generally there are three areas in biology after which technological solutions can be modeled: • Replicating natural manufacturing methods as in the production of chemical compounds by plants and animals • Mimicking mechanisms found in nature such as Velcro and "Gecko tape" • Imitating organizational principles from social behavior of organisms like ants, bees, and microorganisms In the near future, consumers should expect to see increased use of biomimetics to improve efficiency of human designed products and systems through the application of pragmatic natural solutions developed by evolution. Bionics technology has received significant research and development attention for its applications in design and fabrication. It’s quite possible to apply it into communication devices. Like all organisms mechanism are integrated with different joints. Joints are those amazing mechanical structures which allow the mechanism to move. They can be very simple, or very complicated. But like all machines, it is the moving parts that are the most susceptible to breaking down. Nature, through billions of years of trial and error, has produced effective solutions to innumerable complex real-world problems. It is proposed that a biomimetic joint can be produced to found a mechanism. Years developing in this field, researchers have found diversified bionic joints. The modularization of main components and flexible connectivity will enable the adaptability to different user group needs and allow the freedom to use and transport the device in most convenient way. The current mobile telecommunication devices often disrupt these regulatory mechanisms of human conversations (McLuhan, 1964) [2]. To improve on this, a system would be set up, where the agent that controls the cell phone is embodied in a small portable animatronic device, as a personal 'companion' for the user. This embodiment is able to use the same subtle but still public non-verbal cues to get our attention and interrupt us like humans would do (like eye gaze and small gestures), instead of ringing or vibration. The user can whisper and listen to her squirrel, receiving and replying to voice instant messages. If the user wishes, she can also bypass the Intermediary altogether and get into a synchronous voice communication with the caller by simply talking to the embodiment. The conversational agent is able to converse with caller and callee—at the same time, mediating between them, and possibly suggesting modality crossovers. It deals with incoming communication attempts when the user cannot or does not want to. It's a dual conversational agent since it can converse with both user and caller simultaneously, mediating between them.[3], [4], [5] Nevertheless, what is the future mobile communication devices defined, and what functions would it include? Which kinds of bionic joint and structure can be accepted for the mobile communication devices? Which driver should be applied? How the dynamic capability of the bionic joint is? How to partition the modules of the communication devices system? The intent of this task is research on the characteristic of mobile communication devices and the development of bionics, explore the enabling HW technology future mobile concepts, with the focuses on the flexibility, biomimicry, modularization and intelligent. It is targeted to provide a novel approach to creating highly functional, tiny terminals with soft interaction between machines and humans.

2.2 The state-of-art researches about concept phone and bionics

2.2.1 History OF Cell Phones

The introduction of cellular systems in the late 1970s and early 1980s represented a quantum leap in mobile communication (especially in capacity and mobility). [6] It wasn't until 1984 that cellular phones were first mass marketed to the general public.[7] Semiconductor technology and microprocessors made smaller, lighter weight and more sophisticated mobile systems a practical reality for many more users. [6] It was a technical marvel by which people could reach into their pockets, and then simply make a call to someone - anywhere in the world. This new wireless gadget was bulky, expensive to operate compared to nowadays and back then seem like just another toy on the wish list of those who had money. [7] These 1G cellular systems still transmit only analog voice information. The most prominent 1G system is Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT), and Total Access Communication System (TACS). With the 1G introduction, the mobile market showed annual growth rates of 30 to 50 percent, rising to nearly 20 million subscribers by 1990. [6] In 1995 commercial, as opposed to residential, uses of global positioning services (GPS) began to proliferate.[8] The advent of the GSM network in Europe provided the first wide-area coverage for mobile access to data and multimedia. Corporate users were first to use these devices as it provided fast and secure access to the latest information. The first example of a multimedia terminal was Nokia’s communicator, which appeared in late 1996. [8] This was an integrated mobile phone and personal organizer with voice, short message service, data and fax access and an Internet browser. Within five years, most of the personal organizers of the day included access to mobile data using GSM’s packet radio system. This was quickly followed by a range of ‘GSM appliances’ which brought about the advent of machine-to-machine communications. The other key technologies brought about by the development and deployment of agent technology in the late 1990s were the automatic buying and selling of personalized information and anticipatory services. By the year 2001 the first prototype wearable multimedia devices were developed which could access a range of different networks including GSM, digital audio broadcast and hibernal. [8] To realize multimedia mobile services and worldwide roaming capability, the third generation system, IMT-2000, is being developed in conjunction with the ITU standardization activities. The service is planed to start around the year 2001 subject to market considerations. IMT-2000 is expected to play the key role of the mobile telecommunication infrastructure for providing multimedia services supported by user bit rates up to 2 Mbi/s. [9] By 2002, the first personalized newspapers were delivered to the terminal using the digital broadcast spectrum. [8] Location became an important differentiator for mobile multimedia. For example, tourists were able to download information about what was around them. This included the use of transmitting QuickTime VR movies to mobile terminals. Tourists used these rather than maps to ‘see’ what was around them and where to go. By 2005 most telephone kiosks had developed into public information points where people could both download and transmit information at bit rates of up to 25 Mbit/s. [8]

2.2.2 the developmemt OF bionics

Flying like a bird, swimming like a fish or constructing like insects, the dream to be able to do these things is as old as mankind itself. Again and again, natural models inspired researchers to ideas for new inventions, from flying apparatuses based on nature’s models to roofs constructed like a spider’s web or seashell. In Greek mythology, Daedalos made wings for his son Icarus and himself, modeled after the wings of birds to escape the tyrant Minos. During their escape, however, Icarus came too close to the sun and the wax, which glued the wings together, melted and the feathers came undone – Icarus plummeted into the sea. Although Daedalos’ notion was quite visionary for the later scientific discipline “bionics”, it was not its beginning. And we can learn something else from this myth: doing bionics does not mean copying nature. Leornardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was a universal genius. He was an artist, philosopher, scientist and the first real bionic researcher. After studying the flight of birds, he wrote his classic opus “Sul vol degli uccelli” already in 1505 and constructed flying apparatuses, helicopters, and parachutes. Alas, the time was not ready yet and prevented his ideas from being turned into real products. Inspired by Leonardo, a Turkish savant, Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi (1609–1649), also studied the flight of birds and developed a flying apparatus, with which he took off from the Galata Tower in Istanbul, crossed the Bosporus, and landed in Uskudar.

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Fig. 3 The Baker galleon

During the 16th century, England was busy quarreling with Spain over the supremacy on the oceans. In this situation, the Englishman Matthew Baker was inspired by nature in the field of ship building as early as 1590. Practical observation of nature gave him the idea of constructing a ship’s hull after the model of a cod’s head and a mackerel’s tail. This endowed the Baker galleon – named after its inventor – with an improved maneuverability and a reduction in drag. See Fig. 3. Another bionic pioneer was Sir George Cayley (1773–1857), an English noble squire, who was dedicated to – as we would call it today – aviation physics. Back then, it was known as “aeronautics”. Cayley invented the first auto-stabilized flying model and developed the first efficient parachute. The model for his parachute was the common Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon (Tragopogon pratensis). He studied its fruit in 1829 and realized why the fruit bodies float through the air in an auto-stabilized manner. The center of mass of these fruit bodies is very low and the carrying sail area is not flat but folded upward along the edge. With Cayley’s parachute, the center of mass is also very low and the canopy area is folded upward along the edge.

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Fig. 4 Maclura pomifera

All of the bionic researchers mentioned so far were from the “old” world. There were, however, also people in the “new” world who took nature as an inspiration for their inventions. In 1868, Michael Kelly handed in an idea for a renowned patent. The problem is well-known: cattle do not stay put at a location but start to wander. Kelly took Osage (Maclura pomifera, Fig. 4) as a model for his patent. A surrounding hedge of this thorny bush is extremely suitable for keeping cattle at a spot. Therefore, Kelly used this natural principle, modeled it with wire and got a patent for his “thorny wire”. The production, however, was very expensive and two inventors named Glidden and Haish obtained a patent in 1874 for a slightly adapted and cheaper variation of Kelly’s wire and were subsequently said to be the inventors of barbed wire. Otto Lilienthal, of course, should not be forgotten in this list of pioneers of bionics. He studied the flight of storks and produced the first successful flight apparatuses, which he already used during the years 1891–1896 for gliding flights. His book “Der Vogelflug als Grundlage der Fliegekunst” of 1889 is undoubtedly a classic of bionic literature. One day, Raoul Francé was confronted with the task of inoculating soil evenly with micro organisms. He tried various sprinklers and nebulizers, but finally ended up with a poppy seed capsule as a suitable model. After realizing this, Francé got his “new sprinkler” patented in 1920 without any problem (German patent office, No. 723730). It was thus the first example of a bionic patent in Germany.

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Fig. 5 The burrs under a microscope

Probably the most widely-known “bionic product” is recognized and utilized today by millions of people all over the world – Velcro®. It was in 1948 that the Swiss scientist Georges de Mestral discovered this principle of a fastening mechanism. Every time he returned from hunting, both, he and his dog were covered with burrs. De Mestral analyzed the fastening mechanism of the burrs under a microscope (see Fig. 5) and transferred their principle. This “invention of nature” was patented by the name of Velcro®, derived from the French word velours = velvet and crochet = hook. Since the 1950s, bionics has been steadily advancing. Further milestones were a symposium in the USA in 1960, where the term “bionics” was introduced and in 1993, when the German term “Bionik” was defined at a symposium of the German Association of Engineers (Verband Deutscher Ingenieure, VDI). The then leading people in the field of bionics defined it as “a scientific discipline, which deals with the technical implementation and application of constructional, processing, and developmental principles of biological systems”. [10]

2.2.3 the communication devices based on bionics

There is a rational argument to be made for the Bluetooth glove phone, a reassemblage of parts from a Bluetooth head set into a driving glove that was constructed by British gadget guy and television personality Jason Bradbury. See Fig. 6.This glove integrates our telecommunications devices into a stylish and functional clothing accessory while keeping the bulky phone out of the way. OK, maybe a glove phone isn't a great leap forward in technology or ergonomics, but it's hard to deny the goofy fun of answering a call with your thumb and pinky finger. In fact, Bradbury's tinkering hints at a trend that has received a lot of academic attention: wearable computing. Many futurists believe that our communications devices will eventually become cheap and ubiquitous enough to simply be integrated into the elements of our everyday attire. And it's already happening. Several Bluetooth helmets have been developed for skiing and motorcycling from companies such as Marker and Motorola, and jackets that plug into all of your gear and create a personal area network are available from ScotteVest. [11]

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Fig. 6 The phone glove

Sensitive, touchy-feely people need to communicate effectively, too. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon's Project on People and Robots have created The Hug, a multisensory wireless phone and fuzzy pillow that lets people communicate using sensors, heating pads, gently buzzing motors and arrangements of lights while they carry on a telephone communication. The point of the Hug is to allow a physical interaction to carry over long distances, using the same technology that can carry data and voice. See Fig. 7

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Fig. 7 Empathetic Communications

A similar (if vaguely imagined) concept was put forth by Australian student Leah Heiss, who dreamed up an Empathy Vest to deal with "the development of empathy between individuals in remote spaces, the possibility of activity in the public realm being registered in the private realm, and the synaesthetic experience of spatial information." Personally, I have no idea what that means, but the hypothetical vest is supposed to use a wearable computer that transmits signals from touch and sound sensors and displays received signals using a variety of light arrays and (for some unknown reason) a fan. The functionality of this device may seem pointless or even comical, but the underlying idea of using technology to communicate both emotionally and physically could lead to richer, more personal communications in the future--or at least some really good porn. [12] There is no shortage of designs for futuristic electronic paper. Various designs of this magical stuff will allow entire books to fit on a single memory-enabled, polymer sheet, displayed using infinitely reconfigurable magnetically-charged pigments; or futuristic printing technologies that will allow mass-produced super-cheap color screens that could be applied like wallpaper. One of the more interesting e-paper concepts comes from the techno-futurists at Lunar Design, who have imagined a product for the year 2015 called MicroMedia Paper. See Fig. 8. Available in packs of ten for around $35, these ultra-thin, mini color screens would work using replaceable "power sticker" batteries and would be controlled using touch sensitive buttons and a volume dial that adjusts the integrated speakers. Video, pictures and teleconferencing imagery could be transferred using a built-in wireless connection. [13]

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Fig. 8 MicroMedia paper

Whether people know it or not, haptics has been subtly making inroads into everyday life in the form of vibrating phones and gaming controllers and force-feedback control knobs in cars (BMW's iDrive system uses the technology). But the science of haptics has the potential to do much more. Products such as Immersion Corporation and SenseAble Technologies' CyberForce "whole-hand force feedback system" let users interact physically with virtual objects--for instance, you could literally feel the shape, texture and weight of an on-screen three-dimensional object--using a sensor-equipped glove and a force-reflecting exoskeleton. Such devices are used now for virtual modeling, medicine and the military, but as costs decrease, haptic interfaces could become valuable communications tools. Using these tools, people can virtually shake hands over the Internet and doctors could diagnose and operate upon patients remotely. [14] Cell phones and laptops are easy marks for thieves, but a group of scientists at the VVT Technical Research Center in Finland has come up with a way to sour the spoils of such high-tech villainy. The VVT scientists would equip mobile phones and notebook computers with sensors and software capable of analyzing and saving their owners' walking patterns. If the machine determines that it is being carried around by a person with an unfamiliar stride, the gadget will go into a lockdown mode until a password is entered. This sort of passive bio-identification is far easier to use and more likely to be enabled than active methods such as fingerprint ID and code entry. Once such technology becomes widespread, it could have the effect of making gadget theft pointless for criminals. [15]

2.3 Research content and meaning

In this research, we’ll introduce the bionic into the design of future communication devices, and give an integrated definition for mobile communication devices based on bionics. With this, some new bionic mechanisms and structures would be developed. It is targeted to provide a novel approach to creating highly functional, tiny terminals with soft interaction between machines and humans. Synchronously, we will apply the concept of modular design into the mobile phone design field, and develop a modular reconfigurable mobile phone, with both the advantage of convenience and function versatility. Ulteriorly, a brand-new design of communication device will be proposed, which with sound functions compared with human being, this intelligent unit is enabled with eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and skin. Besides these conventional organs, it has powerful brain to think and marvelous body structure to transform into various shapes.

Reference

1] Yan Bo. Design Guide Line. YANBODESIGN, 2005, P1-17. 2] McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media. New York: McGraw-Hill. 3] Marti, S. & Schmandt, C. (2005). Physical Embodiments for Mobile Communication Agents. In Proceedings of UIST 2005, Seattle/WA, 2005. 4] Marti. S. (2005). Autonomous Interactive Intermediaries: Social Intelligence for Mobile Communication Agents. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT Media Laboratory, June 2005. 5] Marti, S. (2004). Autonomous Interactive Intermediaries: Social Intelligence for Mobile Communication Agents. In Doctoral Colloquium Companion Booklet of ACM conference on Computer supported Cooperative Work (CSCW '04), Chicago, 2004. 6] http://www.galaxyphones.co.uk/mobile_phone_communications.asp 7] http://www.global-source-mkt.com/cellphonefacts.html 8] Smyth, P. History of mobile communications - 1995 to 2010. BT Technology Journal, v 18, n 1, Jan, 2000, p 60-61. 9] Masaharu HATA. Fourth Generation Mobile Communication Systems beyond IMT-2000. NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. Invited Paper, P765-767. 10] http://www.biokon.net/bionik/historie.html.en 11] http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/20/cx_gd_1024featslide_comm05_2.html?thisSpeed=48000 12] http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/20/cx_gd_1024featslide_comm05.html?thisSpeed=48000 13] http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/20/cx_gd_1024featslide_comm05_3.html?thisSpeed=48000 14] http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/20/cx_gd_1024featslide_comm05_6.html?thisSpeed=48000 15] http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/20/cx_gd_1024featslide_comm05_9.html?thisSpeed=48000

3 The research content

In this task, we have three topics about the design of future communication devices based on bionic concept. And the research contents about the topics will introduce respectively.

3.1 Biomimicry, compliant, and slim mechanisms and structures

In this topic, we will develop mechanism and structure concepts for future mobile devices which are compliant and slim based on bionic principles.

3.1.1 Object

We expect to achieve such objects in this task as follow: 1) Give a new definition for mobile electronic communication devices based on bionics (BMCD). 2) Find a new structure for part of BMCD based on bionic principles. 3) Give a new joint design for BMCD which not thicker than 6mm, based on bionic principles. And it can support 100,000 times fold without work out.

3.1.2 Content

In this research, we will pay attention to five parts of this task as follow: 1) Give some new concepts for mobile electronic communication devices based on bionics (BMCD). ◆ With the analysis of the development direction of the mobile electronic communication devices, bring the bionic concept into mobile design and set up a new type of mobile electronic communication devices. ◆ Based on the analysis of the functions and characteristic of next generation mobile, give an integrated definition of BMCD. 2) Study the design and arrangement of the electronic devices for super thin mobile. ◆ Design a kind of structure and arrangement of the electronic devices for BMCD based on bionic concept which is good at the utilization of energy and environmental protection. ◆ Find a type of layout of BMCD based on imitate, in order to implement the communication order. 3) Find a new key board structure for BMCD based on bionic principles with the research on bionics and the characteristic of the mobile key board. ◆ With the research on the characteristic of the honeycomb, frame a new type of honeycomb key board for BMCD. ◆ Bring to bear energy law for the analysis of the characteristic of honeycomb key board based on bionic concept. 4) Frame a new joint for BMCD based on bionic principles, which have the tarnal anti-tired function. ◆ According to the connect principle of the skeleton joint to design a bionic joint to be applicable to the BMCD, which can realize to no glide turn and fix. ◆ Analyzing the animal muscle and current artificial muscle work principles, design the dynamic construction of joint according to the artificial muscle. ◆ Establish the emulational model for the movement of the bionic joint, and analyze the stir capability of the joint. 5) Set up an experiment platform for validate the result of design. ◆ Design an experiment platform for detecting the arrange construction rationality and communication effect of the electronics machine and line for a BMCD with 6mm thickness. ◆ Establish the detecting equipment to validate the anti-tired characteristic of the bionic joint with 100,000 times fold.

3.1.3 Sixty-four-dollar question

1) Put forward a new definition for BMCD, accordingly to extend the functions and characteristic of future communication devices. 2) Find a bionic structure design for the part of BMCD, and give a new ideal to the future mobile design. 3) Research a new bionic joint for BMCD, in order to offer a way to achieve the structural order of the future communication devices.

3.1.4 Research COURSES

1) Give an integrated definition for mobile electronic communication devices based on bionics (BMCD). As we know that the concept phone has great development recently, and introduces the idea of super thin, saving energy, environmental protection, and new technologies. With the cognition of the world and the development of the bionics, people request the mobile communication devices have the capability of bionic, intelligence, and can recompose. In this task, we will introduce the bionics into the design of the mobile electronic communication devices, and give an integrated definition of the BMCD. 2) Study the design and arrangement of the electronic devices for super thin mobile.

3) Research on the characteristic of honeycomb structure, set up a new bionic key board structure for BMCD. Honeycomb structure is one of the mostly early and widely used in the bionic field, because the excellences of compact, low-density, energy utilization, and so on. In sectors like building, communication, and automatic transmission equipment, we can found it frequently. With the research on the characteristic of the honeycomb and the habit of human when using the key board, design a saving energy, comfortable, logical bionic key board for the BMCD. 4) Establish the honeycomb energy model, and study the change of energy when people use this kind of key board. Energy utilization is the most notable characteristic of the honeycomb, and it is much comfortable when people do something with much low energy. So establish the honeycomb energy model of the key board, analyze and optimize the structure. 5) Study on the joint of femora and frame a new bionic joint for BMCD, which have the tarnal anti-tired function. Bones are the framework of the vertebrate body and thus contain much information about man’s adaptive mechanisms to his environment. And the joint is one of most important move part of the bone. With the billions of years evolution, the joint has the not substitute effect. Study on the joint of femora and frame a new bionic joint for BMCD. 6) Design a bionic drive for the turn of BMCD with the analysis on the muscle of animals. Ligament is another key factor of the movement of body. It’s an excellent driver with the advantages of space saving and transmission devices, etc. From the pneumatic actuator to the lonic polymer artificial muscles and liquid crystal elastomers, people have caught the key of artificial muscles. In this topic, the artificial muscles will be adopted to drive the joint. 7) Establish an emulational model of bionic joint, and research the dynamic capability.

8) Set up an experiment platform for validate the result of design.

3.1.5 Innovation

1) Put forward a new definition for BMCD, accordingly to extend the functions and characteristic of future communication devices. 2) Find a bionic structure design for the part of BMCD, in order to give a new ideal to the future mobile design. 3) Research a new bionic joint for BMCD, and offer a new direction for design of the communication devices.

3.2 Modular reconfigurable concept phone

In the near future, there two developed orientation of mobile phone. One is as simple as possible to only have easy communication function, while the other is to integrate as many function as possible. It is easy to see that there are disharmonic contradiction convenience and function versatility. Can we find a best way to unsolve the contradiction, maybe modular design is to be the best solution? In this topic, we will apply the concept of modular design into the mobile phone design field, and develop a modular reconfigurable mobile phone, with both the advantage of convenience and function versatility.

3.2.1 Object

In this task, we will try to achieve such objects as follows: 1) Develop a multi-function system, comprising of many function modules; 2) Bring forward a more reasonable module division method; 3) Design convenient, stable, durable, flexible mechanical connection.

3.2.2 Content

With the above objects, the research contents of such topic are as follows: 1) Give a structure frame of a core function module with the basal function of communication and plenty of mechanical interfaces and electrical ports. ◆ Develop the core control system of such module, with the ability of communicating with other modules and processing the data from modules. ◆ Design uniform mechanical interface, holding the characteristic of easy, simple and enduring; ◆ Unify the electrical port between the parent module and child connectors. ◆ Considering of the convenience and stability of communicating, we should find a new way of to locate the electrical port in the comparatively narrow face of parent module. 2) Bring forward a more reasonable module distribute concept to divide the whole modular reconfigurable phone system. ◆ Divide the multi-function mobile phone system into many independent child function modules. Each of the child modules is independent with each other, but, at least, has the necessary mechanical interface and electrical port to connect and communicate with parent module or other modules. In other world, all the modules can integrate into a multi-function mobile phone system as excellent as undivided one; ◆ Besides, integrate even more function models, beyond the realm of main phone function, such as medical modules, entertainment modules and so on, into the modular system. 3) Design sound mechanical connection in order to integrate all the models into a multi-function system or connect child models with each other. ◆ Take into consider of the stability and duration of the connected mechanism; ◆ Make such connections more convenience to connect and disconnect; ◆ Take the challenge to make the connect mechanism simple and realizable in the comparative narrow docking interface. 4) Find a new design concept to locate some special child models on the someplace of the user body in order to make communicate more easy and comfortable; ◆ Beautify the shape of the models to make it fashionable; ◆ Make the shape of the models fit the special location of body and also ensure such models can be integrated into the multi-function phone system; ◆ Make out a efficient and healthy communication method between models, when they disconnect with each other. 5) Set up an experiment platform for validate the result of design. ◆ Build a experiment platform with the basal function of the core models, to realize the mechanical connect and communication between the core model and child models; ◆ Manufacture at least two child models to detect the connect method and communication concept.

3.2.3 Sixty-four-dollar question

1) Put forward a distribution concept of multi-function phone system; 2) Design simple, convenience, during connected mechanism; 3) Give a new fashion style.

3.2.4 Research COURSES

1) Develop a multi-function system, which contain the current main phone functions and also can be reasonable to hold other necessary functions to act as a personal assistant. As we known, the future phone is either simple enough to only have the basal communicate function or much strong work as personal life and work assistant. It is clearly that phone model design concept is the best way to solve the contradiction between the two extremities. So before deeply study the model division method, in order to make the phone function much more strong, it is necessary for us to develop a multi-function system. In this step, we must ensure such system hold the current main function of cell phone, at the same time, we also should take a future thought to integrate many more functions, such as medical function, entertainment function and so on, to into the system. 2) Bring forward a new concept of model distribution to make the phone simple and more portable at the same time not weaken its main function. In such step, we should divide the multi-function system into many independent and simple child model units. We must ensure all the models is the minimal function unit and their functions are not overlapped with each others. An also it is even more important for us ensure all the models are connectable and communicable. 3) Design a core function model with the basal communication function and having efficient mechanical interface and electrical port to connect and communicate with child models. Core function model is indispensable in such multi-function modular reconfigurable system. In order to make such phone portable and convenient, the interface between user and core function model must be simple. At the same time, it is necessary for such model to contain efficient mechanical connectors and electrical port to integrate into a multi-function system. As a result the calculate ability of the core models must be strong enough to deal with the translated single and data between models. 4) On the base of efficiently enforcement of above steps, it is the time to design the efficient and during connect mechanism. The design of efficient connect mechanism is another hardware challenge. In the design process, many factors we must take into consider, firstly such connector must be easy be connected and disconnected; secondly such docking interface should be during and stable in order to make it is not easy to easy to realize in reality; thirdly, as the side face of the models are usually narrow, the connect mechanism is necessary to be simple and reasonable to locate on the side face of models. 5) Study the communication mechanism between core models and child models, even among child models, and put forward a reasonable unified electrical port to make the communication even more convenient and efficient. Different models have different electrical port to translate data and singles. However, the side face of core model is too narrow to locate all the electrical ports, so it is necessary for us the design unifies communicate port to make it reasonable and easy to be realized. 6) Locate many of the child models in some place of body in order to make the phone even more convenient to realize basal communication function. As we know, when coming a call, it is inconvenient for us to find out the phone in the corner of own deep bags. Maybe, it is much easier for us to get the information of call number by wear the display model on the fingers or wrist. In the same way the location of many other child models is also a challenge work for us to solve. 7) Beautify the shape of such models to make they are fashionable to wear on or even become a new fashion concept. Since some of he child models should be wear on some place of users’ body, we must beautify eh model fashion. 8) Set up an experiment platform for validate the concept of the design. In order to validate all of he design concept of the phone, we should build an experiment platform.

3.2.5 Innovation

1) Applying the modular reconfigurable concept into the phone design; 2) Give a efficient connect mechanism; 3) Bring forward a new fashion definition.

3.3 Topic 3 Initiative Intelligent communication fellow

In this paper, we proposed a brand-new design of communication device, a totally artificial intelligent unit opening to the not far future. With sound functions compared with human being, this intelligent unit is enabled with eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and skin. Besides these conventional organs, it has powerful brain to think and marvelous body structure to transform into various shapes. With all such attributes, we name it Robopal, a perfect indispensable fellow accompanying people. Our robopal will be a perfect combination of robot and communication device. He is an artificial guy equipped with most human sense, artificial intelligence, various inner-world expression, and communication function.

3.3.1 Object

We expect to achieve such objects in this task as follow: 1) Give a new definition for changeable, initiative communicative robot pal--- “Robopal”. 2) Propose a multi-functional robotic doll integrating various sensors, and various types of actuators. 3) Invent a new structure and configuration for Robopal based on mechanism and bionic principles. 4) Give an initiative artificial intelligence scheme for Robopal which follows master’s words and feelings, recognizes surrounding situation, and makes initiative and sound inter-communication.

3.3.2 Content

In this research, we will pay attention to five parts of this task as follow: 1) Describe a wholesome model of the future communication fellow Robopal, introducing elements of mechanisms, robotics and bionics. Based on current popular communication device (cell phone), robotics concept, and people’s desire of intimate and powerful secretary, we define a sound robotic communication fellow--Robopal. This concept robotic fellow has functions far beyond current popular cell phone and developed robots. This robopal has three main characters: multi-sensor integration, artificial intelligence planted, and reconfigurable skeletons and facial structure. 2) Study the common interface to integrate current functional sensors and its application in Robopal main computer. The Robopal should has camera, mike, tactile sensors, electrical nose, DC motors and maybe artificial muscle actuators, which give high requirement for master computer’s interface. 3) Exploring the possibility of applying tactile sensors to Robopal to provide more vivid communication environment. Tactile sensing is an essential prerequisite for robot to immediately interact with environment. Tactile sensing itself has very strong impressible ability to measure the object and environment directly. With tactile sensors, Robopal can feel master with its hand, which adds much entertainment and nursing elements. However the research in this area is not much sophisticated compared with vision sensors and voice identification. Our work will concentrate on the biomimetic skin with MEMS technology. 4) Trying to construct an expert base in Robopal to add intelligence pool, which includes most daily affairs, human emotion and thought, Robot could understand the outside world with its own feeling and thought, by the help of “memory”, just like human’s brain memory. Once planted this kind of expert base, pattern recognition will act the most effective and efficient way to make Robopal intelligent in no time. However, such expert database, just like an encyclopedia, is so immense. Considering Robopal’s memory volume, we tempt to select the most classic, familiar and popular events and thoughts and circulate them as simplified expert base. 5) Define the framework of initiative artificial intelligence for Robopal to serve as platform for further intelligence research. Learning is most effective way for people to grow with experience and become mature. It’s the same for robot. It is an intelligent job to find a kind of proving for a theorem just from imagination. Not only is the ability to deduct according to preconditions needed, but also some instinct skills. Robopal can learn from its experience, namely growing mature but not “old”. It can learn and think independently, can make initiative communication with master by situation recognition and its experience. We focus part of our research on the definition of intelligence and initiative communication methods. With the definition work done, further programming will be carried out. 6) Design a metamorphous mechanism to make Robopal changeable between several kinds of cute classic animals. Ever since the first robot was created, researchers mostly paid attention on how to let robot imitate things or animals in the real world, leaving alone the industrial robot. We did not tempt to change robot’s style or geometry characters, which could only be found in cartoon TV series like “Transformer”. We propose an audacious idea to design a robot not only changeable but also change into 5 or 6 different kinds of animals or things. Together with this idea, much work on biomimetic animal skeleton and motion, mechanism design & simulation, gait planning and correction, motion control and so on, should be carried out. 7) Design an emotion-expressing face for Robopal to add vivid element All living animals have face to express their feeling, which is called emotional expression. Customarily, emotion is generated by movement of facial muscular. Series of motor or artificial muscle could imitate human’s facial movement. In our work, we try to plant flesh-toned polymer in our Robopal to make it emotional.

3.3.3 Sixty-four-dollar question

1) Common interface to integrate various sensors The communication agreement should be pre-defined, before sensors’ successful included. Much work on current popular bus Http/IP, CAN, Profibus, 485 and so on are to be investigated for potential use. 2) The build of framework and multi-thought thread to make Robopal think initiatively 3) Mechanism design and simulation on Robopal Our Robopal should be designed as a small, portable doll. Therefore, its size is utmost fundamental element to take into account. In order to reduce the size, upcoming MEMS technology and biomechanics engineering, molecular scaled motion should be introduced. 4) Geometrical transformation control over Robopal Following the above problem is the control of geometrical transformation. With 25 degrees of freedom to drive to make a complete configuration change, the central processing computer should afford the great calculation amount of each joint’s gait on-line planning and adjustment.

3.3.4 Research COURSES

1) Propose a sound definition of robotic communication fellow Based on current popular communication device (cell phone), robotics concept, and people’s desire of intimate and powerful secretary, we define a sound robotic communication fellow--Robopal. This concept robotic fellow has functions far beyond current popular cell phone and developed robots. With as many kinds of sensors as possible, the Robopal can get the infinite information from the master and surrounding. With artificial intelligence, the Robopal can think as human brain and serve as real close friend, offering thorough and in-deep suggestions, sharing opening-mind close talk, and giving timely and indispensable help. With special designed skeletons and facial composition, the Robopal can change into various kinds of animals and display many emotional expression. Thus, Robopal is a vivid close artificial friend for its master. 2) Study general interface to integrate sensors & actuator The Robopal should has camera, mike, tactile sensors, electrical nose, DC motors and maybe artificial muscle actuators, which give much high requirement for master computer’s interface. current popular bus Http/IP, CAN, Profibus, 485 and so on are planned to be investigated for potential use 3) Construct an expert base in Robopal to add intelligence pool. Classic daily affairs are to be selected and tried to plant in Robopal. Human emotion information is to be planted. Surrounding situations and their indication information is to be planted. 4) Circulate the research on artificial intelligence within Robopal With Expert System and Artificial Neural Network, the brain in Robopal can not only receive master’s order, follow master’s instructions, and make needed communication, but also recognize and understand master’s words, make suggestive communication and create entertain environment with expert library. 5) Propose an metamorphose configuration model The Robopal has 15 joints and 25 degrees of freedom. Each leg has three joints. The rear joint is the same as inner joint, both pin joints. With this configuration, this robot doll could change into various shapes: tortoise, crab, hand, starfish, miniature human. 6) Design an geometry transformation algorithm As the Robopal has 5 metamorphose shapes to change, the algorithm is design to control geometry change.

3.3.5 Innovation

1) Applying robotics into communication device 2) Propose initiative intelligence framework in artificial craft. 3) Put forward a metamorphous Structure. 4) Propose an emotional facial expression design in communication device.

4 the Research plan and expect results

4.1 Plan

March 2007: Investigate the reference, and give the survey of biomimetics research and its potential applications to hardware of mobile. April: Set up the conceptual designs and finish the research proposal. Finish the definition for future mobile electronic communication devices based on bionics (BMCD). May: Give the structure design and analysis for part of BMCD based on bionic principles. Bring forward a more reasonable module division method for a multi-function system, comprising of many function modules. June ~ July: Establish the model and prototyping of the bionic structure. Design a convenient, stable, durable, flexible mechanical connection for the modules. August: Finish the design of bionic joint for BMCD, and adopt a feasible artificial muscle for the driver of joint. September: Establish the model of the joint and its driver. October: November: December: January: Verification February: Project end and give some conclusions.

4.2 Expect results

5 The research foundation and condition

5.1 Foundation

5.2 Condition

6 The budget of outlay