title: A three-dimensional actuated origami-inspired transformable metamaterial with multiple degrees of freedom.
abstract: Reconfigurable devices, whose shape can be drastically altered, are central to expandable shelters, deployable space structures, reversible encapsulation systems and medical tools and robots. All these applications require structures whose shape can be actively controlled, both for deployment and to conform to the surrounding environment. While most current reconfigurable designs are application specific, here we present a mechanical metamaterial with tunable shape, volume and stiffness. Our approach exploits a simple modular origami-like design consisting of rigid faces and hinges, which are connected to form a periodic structure consisting of extruded cubes. We show both analytically and experimentally that the transformable metamaterial has three degrees of freedom, which can be actively deformed into numerous specific shapes through embedded actuation. The proposed metamaterial can be used to realize transformable structures with arbitrary architectures, highlighting a robust strategy for the design of reconfigurable devices over a wide range of length scales.
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Johannes T B
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Overvelde
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Twan A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shevchenko
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Sergio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
authors.affiliation: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.|Hoberman Associates, New York, New York 10001, USA.|Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Chuck
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoberman
authors.affiliation: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.|Kavli Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D006244:Hardness; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D008422:Materials Testing; D018583:Pliability; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013672:Technology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates