Technical Description
The WOWCube® System consists of eight autonomous modules, each with its own microprocessors inside. It has 24 high-resolution screens. There are multiple magnetic connectors on each module that allow the data to be transferred between autonomous modules on the fly. This allows objects to literally step from one module to another.
A game or application is a decentralized distributed system that works on 8 devices, moreover, the topology of their connection is changed by the user. The operating system maintains the integrity of everything. We had to invent special magnetic connectors to make reliable connections between modules, which work well in such conditions and allow the cube to charge as a single integral device from one point.
Tech Spec
WOWCube® system is an innovative electro-mechanical twisty game console that looks like a 2 x 2 version of a Rubik’s Cube. It consists of eight autonomous modules combined together in a way that enables them to be rotated by four in a layer around three mutually perpendicular axes in a way that resembles a Rubik’s Cube. Despite the fact that every module of the WOWCube® system is autonomous they are connected to each other sharing data. There are multiple smart connectors on each module that allow the data to be transferred between autonomous modules on the fly. There are four connectors on the inner side of each module interfacing with the three adjacent modules. These smart connectors enable data sharing and distributing low voltage power across the WOWCube® system.
Let’s now see how it works.
The connector consists of a small, neodymium magnetic ball, an iron washer, and an external aperture in a plastic liner which is slightly smaller than that of the ball. This limits the ball’s movements and helps prevent it from falling out. An external pressure throws the ball inside the connectors capsule. While the pressure disappearing brings the ball back to its equilibrium point. The ball’s magnetic field acts like a spring, attracting the iron washer, which keeps the ball in a balanced position inside the washer. When two modules are close enough, their neodymium magnetic balls are attracted to each other turning the opposite poles. When modules are rotated, their neodymium magnetic balls come back to the starting position inside the washer’s hole. This same scenario repeats every time two modules are approaching each other. But this asks the question, “How do they connect their parent modules to each other to let them share data between modules?” The truth is that at some point, the magnetic ball is naturally attached to the iron washer in its neutral position letting the position “rest”. Being electrically conductive, the balls transfer electric signals from their respective parent modules. When two modules are close enough, their neodymium magnetic balls attach to each other which seals in contact and the transferring of data between the modules. When modules are rotated, contacts break, which stops data transfer between modules for a while. The next contact sealing renews the data transfer. The same scenario repeats every time when modules lock into contact.
Operating System
Our company has built an operating system from scratch, and this is where things get interesting. The operating system allows each cube to act independently, but it can also interact with other cubes and share data. Moreover, the operating system can scale up to handle as many cubes as necessary and in any configuration, a licensee could want. So frankly speaking, it doesn’t matter if it is a 2-by-2 or 3-by-3 model cube or even if it looks like a snake. The operating system will be able to manage and control how the cubes in the device interact, making it a powerful platform for all sorts of potential devices. Distributed computing occurs in parallel on 8 modules. The operating system maintains its integrity.
At the same time, it allows you to reconfigure the device, and configuration can be changed all the time. Geometrically it is in constant change by the user. Furthermore, the operating system prioritizes the user’s actions. For example, while a smartphone or a computer can ignore user input if it isn’t ready, our device cannot ignore being turned. Think about it; when you turn the device, you are changing its geometry. This means the OS has to handle the user’s actions first over all other routing procedures.
Application store and SDK
So, we have developed the operation system, an open API and a Software Development Kit to allow independent developers to create their own applications and make it available for download through the WOWCube® Application store.
