Blobotics is a term describing research into chemical-based computer processors based on

ions An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

rather than

electrons The electron (, or in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary charge, elementary electric charge. It is a fundamental particle that comprises the ordinary matter that makes up the universe, along with up qua ...

. Andrew Adamatzky, a computer scientist at the

University of the West of England, Bristol The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol) is a Public university, public research university, located in and around Bristol, England, UK. With more than 39,912 students and 4,300 staff, it is the largest provider of hi ...

used the term in an article in ''

New Scientist ''New Scientist'' is a popular science magazine covering all aspects of science and technology. Based in London, it publishes weekly English-language editions in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. An editorially separate organ ...

'' March 28, 200

The aim is to create 'liquid logic gates' which would be 'infinitely reconfigurable and self-healing'. The process relies on the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction, a repeating cycle of three separate sets of reactions. Such a processor could form the basis of a

robot A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...

which, using artificial sensors, interact with its surroundings in a way which mimics living creatures. The coining of the term was featured by ABC radio in

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References

* Motoike I., Andrew Adamatzky, Adamatzky A. "Three-valued logic gates in reaction-diffusion excitable media." ''Chaos, Solitons & Fractals'' 24 (2005) 107-114 * Adamatzky, A. "Collision-based computing in Belousov–Zhabotinsky medium." ''Chaos, Solitons & Fractals'' 21:(5), (2004), p1259-1264 Robotics Classes of computers {{Robo-stub