Zygote structure enables pluripotent shape-transforming deployable structure.

We propose an algorithmic framework of a pluripotent structure evolving from a simple compact structure into diverse complex 3D structures for designing the shape-transformable, reconfigurable, and deployable structures and robots. Our algorithmic approach suggests a way of transforming a compact structure consisting of uniform building blocks into a large, desired 3D shape. Analogous to a fertilized egg cell that can grow into a preprogrammed shape according to coded information, compactly stacked panels named the zygote structure can evolve into arbitrary 3D structures by programming their connection path. Our stacking algorithm obtains this coded sequence by inversely stacking the voxelized surface of the desired structure into a tree. Applying the connection path obtained by the stacking algorithm, the compactly stacked panels named the zygote structure can be deployed into diverse large 3D structures. We conceptually demonstrated our pluripotent evolving structure by energy-releasing commercial spring hinges and thermally actuated shape memory alloy hinges, respectively. We also show that the proposed concept enables the fabrication of large structures in a significantly smaller workspace.

Computational wrapping: A universal method to wrap 3D-curved surfaces with nonstretchable materials for conformal devices.

This study starts from the counterintuitive question of how we can render conventional stiff, nonstretchable, and even brittle materials sufficiently conformable to fully wrap curved surfaces, such as spheres, without failure. Here, we extend the geometrical design method of computational origami to wrapping. Our computational wrapping approach provides a robust and reliable method for fabricating conformal devices for arbitrary curved surfaces with a computationally designed nonpolyhedral developable net. This computer-aided design transforms two-dimensional (2D)-based materials, such as Si wafers and steel sheets, into various targeted conformal structures that can fully wrap desired 3D structures without fracture or severe plastic deformation. We further demonstrate that our computational wrapping approach enables a design platform that can transform conventional nonstretchable 2D-based devices, such as electroluminescent lighting and flexible batteries, into conformal 3D curved devices.