Smart Dust: Monte Carlo Simulation of Self-Organised Transport

Smart dust is envisaged as swarms of miniature communication/sensor devices useful for remote monitoring in space exploration. With diameters and densities comparable to sand particles the behaviour of passive dust will be identical to the movement of airborne sand. Here we examine algorithms for the adaptive shape change of smart dust modes that permits a change in drag coefficient depending on whether or not the random motion is in a favourable direction. Monte Carlo simulations are reported for swarms of smart dust devices transporting in the wind-dominated environment of the Martian landscape. It is concluded that relatively simple shape changing algorithms, activated through an electro-active polymer sheath, will permit self-organised transport over large distances.