A method for building self-folding machines

Origami can turn a sheet of paper into complex three-dimensional shapes, and similar folding techniques can produce structures and mechanisms. To demonstrate the application of these techniques to the fabrication of machines, we developed a crawling robot that folds itself. The robot starts as a fla...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2014-08, Vol.345 (6197), p.644-646
Main Authors: Felton, S., Tolley, M., Demain, E., Rus, D., Wood, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automatic control
Buildings
Flats
Folding
International conferences
Machinery
Manufacturing
Materials research
Materials science
Mechanical engineering
Metamaterials
Origami
Paper folding
Polyimides
Robotics
Robots
Self assembly
Tunnels (transportation)
Unit cell
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Summary:Origami can turn a sheet of paper into complex three-dimensional shapes, and similar folding techniques can produce structures and mechanisms. To demonstrate the application of these techniques to the fabrication of machines, we developed a crawling robot that folds itself. The robot starts as a flat sheet with embedded electronics, and transforms autonomously into a functional machine. To accomplish this, we developed shape-memory composites that fold themselves along embedded hinges. We used these composites to recreate fundamental folded patterns, derived from computational origami, that can be extrapolated to a wide range of geometries and mechanisms. This origami-inspired robot can fold itself in 4 minutes and walk away without human intervention, demonstrating the potential both for complex self-folding machines and autonomous, self-controlled assembly.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1252610