Shape-shifting a configuration of reusable elements

An element comprising:

• at least one face comprising an exterior surface for providing abutment for a face of another, similar element;
• at least one motion-restriction module for holding said element with respect to at least one other, similar element, said holding selected from holding position and holding orientation;
• at least one motion module for moving said element with respect to at least one other, similar element substantially along or on an exterior surface of at least one other, similar element, said moving selected from displacing of a centre of mass with respect to one another, displacing a geometrical centre with respect to one another, and changing an orientation with respect to one another;
• a communication module for exchanging data with at least one other, similar element, said data comprising at least one position status;
• a data processing module, functionally coupled to said communication module for processing data from said communication module;
• an energy module functionally coupled for providing energy to at least said displacement module, said communication module, and said data processing module, wherein in operation said element is in physical contact with at least one other, similar element with its exterior surface at least partly in contact with at least part of an exterior surface of said at least one other, similar element, and
• wherein said data processing module comprises software which, when running on said data processing module, comprises the steps of:
• retrieving a set position, selected from place and orientation and a combination thereof, for said element via said data communication module;
• retrieving current position information;
• calculating at least one motion instruction for said motion module for moving said element from said current position to said set position by moving its exterior surface over said exterior surface of said at last one other, similar element;
• providing said motion module with said at least one motion instruction.

An element comprising:

• at least one exterior surface allowing displacement;
• at least one motion restriction module for maintaining a position of said element with respect to/onto a similar element;
• at least one motion module for displacing said element with respect to other, similar elements substantially over said exterior surface;
• a communication module for exchanging data with other, similar elements;
• a data processing module, functionally connected to said motion module, said motion-restriction module, said communication module;
• an energy module, for providing energy to said motion module, said motion-restriction module, said communication module, said data processing module.

A computer implemented game, comprising a computer program which, when running on a computer device, preforms the steps of:

• defining in a memory a set of at least three elements, each element comprising:
• a centre point in said element, a relative position and an orientation;
• a motion-guiding function, coupled to said centre point and defining a predefined trajectory over said element;
• a motion function defining displacing the centre point with respect to a second centre point of one of the other elements using the motion-guiding function of that other element;
• a motion-restriction function, adapted for limiting the displacement of said centre point with respect to the second centre point to at least one trajectory selected from the group consisting of said predefined trajectory and a second predefined trajectory of said other element;
• wherein said motion-guiding function of at least two of said elements define a functionally coupling between elements for enabling said motion function to displace the centre point of a third, displacing element which is in contact with one of the other two elements away from the centre point of one of the other two elements and towards the centre point and in contact with the other of the other two elements.

A method for playing a game or running a simulation, comprising providing a computer program which, when running on a computer device, performs the steps of:

• defining a set of at least three three-dimensional elements in a memory, each element having a centre point and at least one face;
• defining in a memory a start state of said set of elements, by a start outer boundary of said set of elements, and a at least a position of each element with respect to said outer boundary;
• defining in a memory a goal state of said set of elements, which goal state is different from said start state and requiring displacement of at least one element;
• providing a function toolbox comprising:
• a set of motion-guiding functions, said motion-guiding functions coupled to said centre point and defining a predefined trajectory over said element;
• a set of motion functions defining displacing the centre point with respect to a second centre point of one of the other elements using the motion-guiding function of that other element;
• a set of motion-restriction functions, adapted for limiting the displacement of said centre point with respect to said second centre point to at least one trajectory selected from the group consisting of said predefined trajectory and a second predefined trajectory of said other element;
• a set of sensor functions providing information on the environment of an element;
• presenting said function toolbox to a user and enabling said user to select at least one function from said function toolbox for each element;
• providing for each element an element computer program operationally coupling said selected functions, and which element computer program when executed performs steps allowing input selected from sensor input and relative position input, and allowing motion of an element running said element computer program, and
• running on each element said element computer program.

A method for playing a game comprising

• giving a begin shape of at least three cube shaped elements to a user playing said game;
• giving a different end shape comprising said at least three cube shaped elements wherein at least one cube shaped element must be displaced in relation to the other cube shaped elements wherein said displacement occurs by using a motion function related to a cube shaped element which operates in conjunction with at least one other cube shaped element;
• giving a set of parameters which together with said different end shape determine losing or winning said game
• providing the user with a set of tools wherein the user is able to select programmable attributes of the elements by which each element is able to run it's own program
• allowing the user to make a selection from said set of tools
• transferring the selected tools selected by the user to said at least three cube-shaped elements
• starting the game wherein said at least three cube-shaped elements run their individual programs starting from said begin shape
• completing the game on the basis of said parameters and the position of said at least three cube shaped elements in relation to said different end shape.