“We let our shape-changing object move on the simplest curved space, a sphere, to systematically study the motion in curved space,” said Rocklin. “We learned that the predicted effect, which was so counter-intuitive it was dismissed by some physicists, indeed occurred: as the robot changed its shape, it inched forward around the sphere in a way that could not be attributed to environmental interactions.
The whole purpose of the new research was to evaluate how an object moved within a curved space. To do this, they used a specialized robot.The machine was built to induce an environment with minimal interaction or exchange of momentum in the curved space by using a set of motors on curved tracks as moving masses. This system was then connected to a rotating shaft so that the motors would always move on a sphere.
This shaft was supported by air bearings and bushings to minimize the friction, and the alignment of the shaft was adjusted with the Earth’s gravity to minimize the residual force of gravity. The end result was a robot that continued to move while gravity and friction exerted slight forces on it. These forces hybridized with the curvature effects to produce a strange dynamic with properties neither could induce on their own.The robot’s curved movements are an important demonstration of how curved spaces can be attained and how they fundamentally challenge physical laws.“This research also relates to the ‘Impossible Engine’ study,” said Rocklin.