Compuational Architecture Pack

A grid of 4 Illuminato X Machina cells is great for testing code and learning to use the IXM ecosystem.

I’ve spoken to researchers about projects exploring with larger scale computation, or the impact of structural connectivity on algorithmic processing speed and came up with the Computational Architecture Pack based on their suggestions.

To enable experimentation with structural changes to computational architecture, the Computational Architecture Pack comes with 15 IXM cells, a Red Terminal Programmer, Shrapnel Resistant 12” USB cables, a 7-pin programmer cable, as well as a 12 V power supply capable of supporting 2 whole Computational Architecture Packs.

Components

• 15 Illuminato X Machina Cells
• 1 Red Terminal
• 2 “Shrapnel Resistant 12 Type B-mini USB Cables
• 1 7-Pin IXM Power Supply
• 1 7-Pin IXM Programming Cable
• 48 7-pin Intracellular Matrix Headers (3 per board)

Specs

• Weight: 24g
• L x W x H: 1.87” x 1.87” x 0.25”
• General Purpose I/O: 24 pins
• Total I/O: 56 pins
• Processor Type: 32-bit ARM
• Processor Name: LPC2368
• Processor Speed: 72 MHz @ 64 Dhrystone MIPS EEPROM: IC SRL EEPROM; 128 KB

• 3 type-B mini USB 2.0 ports (480 Mbps)
• Program up to 3 IXM cells simultaneously
• 2 W power output per USB port connected
• General purpose I/O: 9 pins
• Total I/O: 33 pins

• Input Voltage: 100-240 V
• Input Current: 2 Amps
• Output Voltage: 12 V
• Output Current: 4.5 Amps
• Onboard Power-on LED
• Powers up to 30 IXM cells

• 7-pin male header
• USB Type A connector
• 3 ft
• USB 2.0 compatible; up to 3 Mbps via serial

Resources and References

• Custom version of the Arduino IDE designed to program the Illuminato X Machina
• Programming API & Documentation
• Schematics
• Gerbers
• Source code tree

Video

Programming a tribe of IXMs with a Red Terminal

Programming a tribe of IXM cells through a Red Terminal from Matt Bitz on Vimeo.

Programming the Illuminato X Machina: A demo with two cells.

Programming the Illuminato X Machina from Chris Ladden on Vimeo.

Illuminato X Machina Arrays in Action: A longer demo with two arrays of cells, and shows more of the autonomous, cellular functionality of the system.

Illuminato X Machina Arrays In Action from Chris Ladden on Vimeo.