Single-core approach, limitations

The number of integrated functionalities will continue to increase and the future scalability of this approach is limited as previously described, e.g., limited by the computation power of single core processor(s) and reliability restrictions (e.g., usage of fans is not allowed). If processor PI does not provide sufficient computation power new processors / nodes will be needed. Adding new processors / nodes and their associated communication buses leads to additional reliability and availability issues (e.g., material reliability, EMC). 

Consider the gel collapse in more detail. As hydrogen ions diffuse into the gel, they will rapidly react to form neutral carboxylic acid groups. Thus, a nonionic shell of collapsing gel will develop around a still-swollen ionized core. The diffusion of ions occurs freely in this nonionic shell, so that the collapse is limited by the Fickian diffusion of water out of the gel. We have confirmed this Fickian behavior by measuring the collapse of cylindrical gel samples of differing radii and ionic compositions [5]. The data for the fractional approach to equilibrium fall on a single curve against [Dt/R2]1/2, where D is the diffusion coefficient and R is the initial radius of the gel cylinder. 

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