The initial project constructs a simple and limited kind of movement called remotely-controlled movements. These "remote" movements resemble certain movements of robots and are represented by math-like structures, although the proposed technologies and the representations are fundamentally different from computational versions. A condensed version of the construction is set forth below (...).

Rather different residential movements are developed in "Wavy movements in a hybrid domain of classical and Virtual Energy devices" (2022) discussed below.

Devices in proposed technologies operate according to new "rate-based" Virtual Energy (VE) principles where flows of VE have a character like flows of blood sugar in animal bodies or flows of electricity in electronics devices. Instead of stored bits of data as in computers, storage bodies contain VE. Controlling forms are based on time units of muscle-like twitches that resemble beats in music. A new kind of code controls discharges of VE and productions of movement; and the code resembles a musical score rather than a computer program. Strengths and timings of movements are signaled by instantaneous pulses – idealized versions of action potentials in animal nerves. Each pulse carries one unit of VE, called a bang and denoted by !.

The ultimate aim is to build engineered organisms that exercise freedom. Anticipated exercises of freedom embody a physical principle called Shimmering Sensitivity that I suggest can operate in networks of VE devices during a critical moment – when many possible movements change into selected actual movements. It's like picking a candy bar from a rack of snacks in a store. Many influences converge during a momentary transformational event, during which ... possibility ... turns into ... actuality.

Both spinal arrays are in the shape of a waveform with a wavelength of 16 segments. Arrays have 17 segments for visual completion. A waveform guides production of wavy movements but changing shapes of a moving array differ from a stationary waveform. E.g., forces in a waveform are in equilibrium while those in a moving array are not..

As shown in the enlarged version, a new pair of annular movers encircles the central hub of a spinal segment, producing forces like those produced by the exterior movers carried over from the prior project. Forces from two pairs of movers can be added, subtracted and/or coordinated. To produce faster movements, movers are further multiplied in number and overdriven with expanded force differentials.

Red projections (lines) carry drive signals to movers. Two coupled blue projections carry sensory signals from movers, denoting the length of a mover and changes in a mover's length. Such signals resemble signals produced by sensors in animal muscles that participate in proprioceptive functions.

Elastic joints, shown as green discs, replace rigid joints. Energy storage and release in elastic joints produces smoother movements. Blue sensors in elastic joints detect stresses (measured as deviations from equilibrium positions) and changes in such stresses.

A complete set of projections connects to control systems that reside in the body of the organism and that depend on the body (shown in brown). A duplicate set of projections connects to remote control systems in the head.

The SHO is further developed in the movement module of Fig. 6, where twitching muscle-like movers pump energy into the ball and keep it in steady oscillatory movements despite dissipation resulting from movement through a surrounding viscous fluid. In Fig. 6, the actively-twitching mover is bright magenta while the flaccid inactive mover is dull purple. A twitching mover has 15 possible levels of force and the amplitude of repetitive symmetrical oscillations has 15 possible values.

The elemental twitch in the device combines multiple aspects. Pulse bursts travel from right to left on a projection. The number of pulses in a burst is the first factor in the strength of the ensuing twitch. The action form for the device (schema) has a sequence of operations represented by code shown in the figure — NNNPqQQQqR. Each symbol corresponds to a period of time defined as one tick in the schema.

The various combinations of pulse burst signals to the two duets produce a spectrum of 29 balancing positions. The position of the indicator is defined as:   D = (m–n) x (L/28)  — meaning that the displacement of the indicator from midline ("D") is equal to the difference between the drive signals to the force devices ("(m–n)") times the size of one step ("L/28"). Positive displacements are to the right of midline and negative displacements are to the left of midline.

Restrictions are imposed so that a smaller set of drive signals has one-to-one assignments to a smaller set of bends. As a result, each spinal segment can hold any of 15 bends; and numbers 1 through 7 are assigned for bends on each side. The set of bends includes midline represented by 0; seven bends left of midline, represented by –n; and seven bends right of midline, represented by +n. The set of 15 balancing positions can be represented by the 1 through 15 pulses in a burst of pulses.

An orange dot in the joint of a terminal spinal segment marks the head of the spinal assembly and the first position in the p vector.

Each spinal segment operates independently of the others and there are some 2.5 billion possible configurations.

Next, suppose that the spinal assembly moves between successive positions. Perhaps the assembly starts in the +7 configuration. This means that drive signals (15, 8) are delivered to all eight spinal segments on a repetitive schedule. Then drive signals change to (15, 10) and the spinal assembly moves to the +5 configuration, where it rests for a short period. Then it moves to the +3 configuration, resting before moving to +1, to –1, to –3 and to –5, finally concluding the movements at –7.

The matrix becomes a script that represents the succession of movements.

Scripts in this project are restricted to movements where there is a period of rest between successive changes. Thus, movements are detached from one other. The initial movements of Wriggler I are slow; when signals change and new forces appear, spinal segments relax into new balancing positions.

The augmented spinal array is represented by an augmented p vector. "M" and "S" symbols at the ends of the vector represent the states of the sticker devices.

Changing the state of a sticker device, as indicated in Fig. 25, is treated as a kind of movement.

The first movement, from configuration (a) to (b), is performed by detaching the tail sticker device without any other movement. The movements from (b) to (c) and from (c) to (d) are large-scale movements where the spinal array straightens out and then bends to the other side. In the final movement, from (d) to (e), the tail sticker attaches to the wall.

Arch configurations can attach to a wall with sessile sticker devices at both ends. The generic form is p = (S, a, b, c, d, d, c, b, a, S), where a+b+c+d = +14 or –14, depending on the orientation of the assembly. The structure (a,b,c,d) is called a seed.

Fig. 37 shows a module of Modifier that has four burster devices, (I)nput, (O)utput, (A)djustment and Re(V)ersal. Following a command, Loader transfers seed values to Input bursters of Modifier, which automatically transfers them to Adjustment bursters and Reversal bursters, where values are modified. The researcher can transfer modified seed values from either Adjustment bursters or Reversal bursters through Output burster to Loader. Loader then holds a modified script.

Seed values can be increased or decreased in Adjustment bursters; resulting locomotion scripts generated in Loader have wider or narrower arches.

Seed values are switched from left to right in Reversal bursters (and from right to left). That is, a seed value –n when sent from Loader to Modifier becomes +n when sent from Reversal bursters to Output bursters to Loader. An original midline value 0 stays at 0 in the reversal script.

Suppose that an original script is transferred from Loader to both Driver and Modifier. While the original script is running in Driver, the reversal script is held in Reversal bursters. If the reversal script is transferred to Loader and run though Driver after the original script is finished, the spinal assembly will return to the place on the wall that was occupied before the original script started.