Inspired by the paper-folding art of origami, engineers at North Carolina State University have discovered a way to transform a plastic cubed structure into more than 1,000 configurations using just three active motors. The findings could pave the way for shape-shifting artificial systems that can perform multiple functions and even carry loads — like versatile robotic structures used in space, for example.
“The question we're asking is what is the minimum number of actuators that can power shapeshifting,” said Jin Yin, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and co-author of a paper describing the work. How to get multiple versatile looks together.” “Here we use a hierarchical concept observed in nature — like layered muscle fibers — but with plastic cubes to build a transforming robot.”
NC State researchers assembled hollow, plastic cubes using a 3D printer and assembled 36 of them with rotating hinges. Some hinges were mounted with metal pins, while others were activated wirelessly by a motor.
The researchers were able to move the cubes into more than 1,000 shapes using only three active motors. These forms included tunnel-like structures, bridge-like structures and even multi-storied architecture.
Untethered transformer bots can control forward, backward and sideways — without legs — only the structure's shape-shifting modes. Bots can be relatively fast flat, or completely open, in a large box-like cube, or completely closed. Boots can also carry three times their own weight.
Next, the researchers will try to make the Transformer bots even better.
“We want to create a stronger structure that can withstand higher loads,” said Yanbin Li, an NC State postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the paper. “If we want a car shape, for example, how do we first design a structure that can transform into a car shape? We also want to test our structure with real-world applications like space robots. “
“We think they could be used as deployable, configurable space robots and habitats,” said Antonio DeLallo, a NC State postdoctoral researcher and co-first author of the paper. “It's modular, so you can ship it to a space fleet and assemble it as a shelter or a residence, and then take it apart.”
“For consumers, it should be easy to collect and control,” Yen said.
Hao Su, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is a co-author of the paper. Junxi Zhou, an NC State Ph.D. student, Yinding Chi, a former NC State PhD student, also co-authored the paper.
appears in the results Nature Communications. Funding for the research was provided by the National Science Foundation under grants CMMI-2005374, CMMI-2126072 and 2231419.