Towards practical realization of brain-inspired computing in a scalable physical system, we investigate a network of coupled micromechanical oscillators.

We report measurements of synchronization in two nanomechanical beam oscillators coupled by a mechanical element. We charted multiple regions of frequency entrainment or synchronization by their corresponding Arnold’s tongue diagrams as the oscillator was driven at subharmonic and rational commensurate frequencies.

Synchronized radiation from arrays of oscillators is widely used in microwave and wireless communications. Phase-locked oscillations produced at the atomic level now pave the way for devices on the nanoscale. Seen in southeast Asia, it is one of the most dazzling natural visual effects known: large congregations of fireflies blinking on and off in unison (Fig. 1).