Tootfinder

🍾 Drop-to-deploy: How bistable mechanics unfold structures in under a second
#structures

Drop-to-deploy: How bistable mechanics unfold structures in under a second
Traditional deployable systems—relying on pneumatic pumps, electric motors, magnets, or manual assembly—often require bulky power systems or multiple steps. We began exploring whether a simpler, non-electronic alternative was possible using only geometric and material intelligence.

🏮 'Chinese lantern' structure shifts into more than a dozen shapes for various applications
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-chinese-lantern-shifts-dozen-applications.html

'Chinese lantern' structure shifts into more than a dozen shapes for various applications
Researchers have created a polymer "Chinese lantern" that can snap into more than a dozen curved, three-dimensional shapes by compressing or twisting the original structure. This rapid shape-shifting behavior can be controlled remotely using a magnetic field, allowing the structure to be used for a variety of applications.