University of Michigan introduced the world's smallest computer

A miniature device developed by IBM was introduced in March of this year.

In March of this year, IBM introduced the world's smallest computer. Its dimensions are tiny by any measure - only 1x1 mm. The cost of producing such a system, as reported - only 10 cents. Its performance is low and approximately equal to the performance of processors of the early 90s of the last century.

The processor of this miniature sample of modern electronics includes several hundred thousand transistors. In addition to the processor, its elements are SRAM RAM, a photodetector (more on this below) and a light signal transmitter. According to IBM, such a system can be used, including, to track the process of shipment of goods in smart homes, medicine, etc. The IBM computer itself is really small, but recently it became known that scientists at the University of Michigan created a system that is even smaller - only 0.3 x0.3 mm.

In general, the University of Michigan engineers for several years held a record for miniature computer systems. So, the previous model, the Michigan Micro Mote , they produced with dimensions of only 2x2x4 mm. This device had a motion sensor, pressure, photocell, radio. It was created as an element of implantable medical devices. It did not appear suddenly, but a decade after the start of work on a project to create a subminiature computing system.

I must say that it was a full-fledged computer, in which the software and data were saved even during a power outage. Everything, as with a normal computer, which, being disconnected from the network, is able to restore work at any time.

With the new miniature systems from IBM and the same University of Michigan is not so. As soon as the power is turned off, all data is lost. Actually, experts doubt whether such miniature devices can be called computers. “We are not sure that they can be called computers. In principle, the problem can be solved if you know the minimum set of functions, ”says one of the project participants.


Michigan Micro-Mote

Now it is worth explaining why in such a system a receiver and a transmitter of an optical signal. This is done because the computer is too small to install a wireless communication module. Therefore, its creators decided to confine themselves to an optical system, which can be much smaller in size than a radio module. In order for the device to start working, it first loads data that is transmitted in the form of light, all further work with such a computer is carried out on the same principle.

One of the problems that had to be solved during the work on the device was how to avoid interference in the absence of the case and the overall miniature of the device. Visible light can excite currents in the circuit, which would disrupt the normal operation of the gadget. But the developers managed to solve this problem by using a specific layout of the elements on the board.

“We actually had to look for a suitable way to assemble the board elements, which helped to avoid the possibility of interference when exposed to direct sunlight,” says David Blau, the head of the research team.

The device was conceived as a precision temperature sensor, which converts the readings into the duration of electronic pulses. Next, the readings are compared with samples of pulses that are sent by the base station. Thus, the system can measure the temperature, for example, in a sample of living cells. The measurement error is 0.1 ° C. Such accuracy is needed to detect cancerous tumors. Some data from medical studies show that tumors have a higher temperature than healthy tissues that surround a malignant neoplasm.



According to the developers, a miniature computer can be used not only in oncology, but also in many other branches of medicine. So, this system can work as an intraocular pressure sensor for the diagnosis of glaucoma. In addition, a miniature device can be used as a sensor for monitoring oil tanks, monitoring the mode of operation of a ship’s engine or its individual elements, monitoring biochemical processes, video and audio monitoring, blockchain and many other areas.