NatalieKS-Looking-Outwards-03

A team of researchers from MIT and UMass Amherst have created a 3D printed product that is able to fold itself up. These self-folding structures are made using a 3D printer and a special ink that expands once it solidifies, thus forcing the “legs” of the structure to fold themselves up. Due to its self-folding capabilities, these devices are also able to contain functional electronics. These researchers were inspired to create a material with complex, programmed shapes – not much is mentioned about the algorithm used, but it does mention that they programmed specific shapes for specific purposes – in order to further research into robotics and sensing.

This is inspiring because it broadens the opportunities and sources of material for other structures. Since other structures require heat or some other external stimulus to do this kind of behavior (which can be detrimental and degrade the material), this product can accomplish the same thing without using those additional resources and without the potential danger of those external resources. It’s exciting to see new forms of pre-existing material being made into something that is better for human action/interaction as well as the environment.

This project was completed and published in 2017. This video demonstrates the device and talks more in detail about its properties.