Origami-Inspired ‘Transformer Bots’ Revolutionize Space Travel With Shape-Shifting Capabilities‌ ‌

The team was able to move the cubes into more than 1,000 shapes using only three active motors. JIE YIN, NC STATE UNIVERSITY VIA SWNS.

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CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — New shape-shifting ‘Transformer bots’ have been inspired by origami.

The versatile robots could transform space travel, say scientists.

Taking inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of paper-folding, American engineers discovered a way to make a single plastic cubed structure transform into more than 1,000 configurations – using just three active motors.

They say their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, could pave the way for shape-shifting artificial systems that can take on multiple functions and even carry a load, such as versatile robotic structures used in space.

“The question we’re asking is how to achieve several versatile shapes with the fewest number of actuators powering the shapeshifting,” said Professor Jie Yin, a corresponding author.

“Here we use a hierarchical concept observed in nature – like layered muscle fibers – but with plastic cubes to create a transforming robot.”

The North Carolina State University research team put together hollow, plastic cubes using a 3D printer.

They assembled 36 of them with rotating hinges; some hinges were fixed with metal pins, while others were activated wirelessly with a motor.

The team was able to move the cubes into more than 1,000 shapes using only three active motors.

The shapes included tunnel-like structures, bridge-like structures, and even multi-story architectures.