Origami usually involves making very fragile paper structures, but the basic principles of this art form could soon be used to help in difficult construction situations. This is the idea behind a new set of collapsible parts created by a group of engineering professors from the University of Michigan. When unfolded and put together using hinges and locks, these pieces combine to create very sturdy modular structures. Because of their strong design and efficient use of space, these new origami-inspired constructions could be used in natural disaster areas or even outer space. The collaborators have described their work in a new study published on March 15 in origamiNature Communications
. Although the creators used mid-density fiberboard frames with aluminum hinges and locks in their initial tests, they believe materials like plastic, encased glass, or metal could also work in future versions. In one laboratory demonstration, engineers used a small amount of triangular fiberboard pieces and metal hinges. Despite weighing only 16 pounds altogether, the parts could come together to form a 3.3-foot-tall column capable of supporting over 2 tons. In another scenario, a small group of the origami parts could unfold and become various structures, such as a 6.5-foot-tall “bus stop,” a 13-foot-tall vertical building column, or a walking bridge of the same height. To achieve their improved construction design, the engineers realized that consistency was better than selective reinforcements. Microflier robots use the science of origami to descend like leavesWhile other engineers in the past tried to selectively strengthen certain regions of their origami building materials, researchers designed their components with a uniform thickness to allow for more even distribution of weight loads. The result— the Modular and Uniformly Thick Origami-Inspired Structure (MUTOIS) system—not only solves this long-standing stress distribution problem, but also allows for extensive customization based on a user’s needs, like size, purpose, and materials.
Certain parts can be either completely solid or have partial openings within the repeating triangular framework. For example, the pedestrian bridge used solid panels for its base and trussed panels on either side for efficient load-carrying, according to the
team’s research paper
[Related: . These modules also allow individual pieces to be replaced and fixed as necessary..]
The MUTOIS system currently uses simple connectors instead of more specialized, self-latching designs. Therefore, people need to manually build their intended projects, as opposed to relying on robots or factory assembly. Nevertheless, the team believes that further research could continue to expand the MUTOIS system’s potential uses, including in
aerospace systems, extraterrestrial habitats, robotics, mechanical devices, and more. The art of folding may assist in creating strong buildings and structures for living on the moon.. These modules also allow individual pieces to be replaced and repaired as needed.
The MUTOIS system currently relies on simple connectors instead of more specialized, self-latching designs. As such, the structures require people to manually construct their intended projects, as opposed to robotic-assisted or factory assembly. That said, however, the team believes further research could continue to expand the MUTOIS system’s potential utility to help build “aerospace systems, extra-terrestrial habitats, robotics, mechanical devices, and more.”
