# US 2017/0284797 A1 · Pourable smart matter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284797 A1 - Document ID: US20170284797A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/087,264 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Simon Hunt; Mark E. Scott-Nash - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284797A1 ## CPC - G06T 17/00: Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics - G01F 17/00: Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract There is disclosed in an example, a pourable smart matter having a plurality of compute nodes, the compute nodes having: a mechanical structure having a plurality of faces, the faces having abutting face detectors; a network interface; and one or more logic elements comprising a positional engine to: identify a neighbor compute node abutting at least one of the faces; and build an individual positional profile based at least in part on the identifying. The pourable smart matter may be used, for example, to determine the geometry or volume of a container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a mechanical structure having a plurality of faces, the faces having abutting face detectors; a network interface; and one or more logic elements comprising a positional engine to: identify a neighbor apparatus abutting at least one of the faces; and build an individual positional profile based at least in part on the identifying. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an orientation sensor, and wherein the positional engine is to build the individual positional profile based at least in part on an input from the orientation sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the orientation sensor is sensitive to at least two axes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the orientation sensor is sensitive to at least three axes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the orientation sensor is to determine at least an upward orientation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein identifying a neighbor apparatus comprising verifying that the neighbor apparatus has a valid encryption key. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positional engine is further to communicate the positional profile via the network interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein communicating the positional profile comprises verifying a security token. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical structure is a tessalatable solid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positional engine is further to determine a distance to a facing edge of a container holding the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein determining the distance comprises determining a number of similar apparatuses disposed between the apparatus and the facing edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the positional engine is further to participate as a compute node in a parallel computation of a geometry of the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the geometry is a three-dimensional geometry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the geometry is a two-dimensional geometry. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the positional engine is further to participate in a parallel computation of a volume of the container. ### Claim 16 A pourable smart matter comprising: a plurality of compute nodes, the compute nodes comprising: a mechanical structure having a plurality of faces, the faces having abutting face detectors; a network interface; and one or more logic elements comprising a positional engine to: identify a neighbor compute node abutting at least one of the faces; and build an individual positional profile based at least in part on the identifying. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pourable smart matter of claim 16, wherein the compute nodes are peers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The pourable smart matter of claim 16, wherein at least one of the compute nodes is designated as a master node. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pourable smart matter of claim 18, wherein the master node is to collect a full geometry of a container holding the pourable smart matter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The pourable smart matter of claim 18, wherein the master node collects a geometry of any node touching the master node. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The pourable smart matter of claim 16, wherein the compute nodes are substantially uniform. ### Claim 22 One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums having stored thereon executable instructions for instructing a processor to provide a positional engine to: identify a neighbor compute node abutting at least one face of a host compute node for the positional engine; and build an individual positional profile for the host compute node based at least in part on the identifying. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 22, wherein the positional engine is to build the individual positional profile based at least in part on an input from an orientation sensor of the host compute node. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 23, wherein the orientation sensor is sensitive to at least two axes. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable mediums of claim 23, wherein the orientation sensor is to determine at least an upward orientation.