MIT Scientists Made a Shape-Shifting Material that Morphs Into a Human Face (arstechnica.com) 24
An anonymous reader quotes Ars Technica:
The next big thing in 3D printing just might be so-called "4D materials" which employ the same manufacturing techniques, but are designed to deform over time in response to changes in the environment, like humidity and temperature. They're also sometimes known as active origami or shape-morphing systems. MIT scientists successfully created flat structures that can transform into much more complicated structures than had previously been achieved, including a human face. They published their results last fall in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...
MIT mechanical engineer Wim van Rees, a co-author of the PNAS paper, devised a theoretical method to turn a thin flat sheet into more complex shapes, like spheres, domes, or a human face. "My goal was to start with a complex 3-D shape that we want to achieve, like a human face, and then ask, 'How do we program a material so it gets there?'" he said. "That's a problem of inverse design..." van Rees and his colleagues decided to use a mesh-like lattice structure instead of the continuous sheet modeled in the initial simulations. They made the lattice out of a rubbery material that expands when the temperature increases. The gaps in the lattice make it easier for the material to adapt to especially large changes in its surface area. The MIT team used an image of [19th century mathematician Carl Friedrich] Gauss to create a virtual map of how much the flat surface would have to bend to reconfigure into a face. Then they devised an algorithm to translate that into the right pattern of ribs in the lattice.
They designed the ribs to grow at different rates across the mesh sheet, each one able to bend sufficiently to take on the shape of a nose or an eye socket. The printed lattice was cured in a hot oven, and then cooled to room temperature in a saltwater bath.
And voila! It morphed into a human face.
"The team also made a lattice containing conductive liquid metal that transformed into an active antenna, with a resonance frequency that changes as it deforms."
MIT mechanical engineer Wim van Rees, a co-author of the PNAS paper, devised a theoretical method to turn a thin flat sheet into more complex shapes, like spheres, domes, or a human face. "My goal was to start with a complex 3-D shape that we want to achieve, like a human face, and then ask, 'How do we program a material so it gets there?'" he said. "That's a problem of inverse design..." van Rees and his colleagues decided to use a mesh-like lattice structure instead of the continuous sheet modeled in the initial simulations. They made the lattice out of a rubbery material that expands when the temperature increases. The gaps in the lattice make it easier for the material to adapt to especially large changes in its surface area. The MIT team used an image of [19th century mathematician Carl Friedrich] Gauss to create a virtual map of how much the flat surface would have to bend to reconfigure into a face. Then they devised an algorithm to translate that into the right pattern of ribs in the lattice.
They designed the ribs to grow at different rates across the mesh sheet, each one able to bend sufficiently to take on the shape of a nose or an eye socket. The printed lattice was cured in a hot oven, and then cooled to room temperature in a saltwater bath.
And voila! It morphed into a human face.
"The team also made a lattice containing conductive liquid metal that transformed into an active antenna, with a resonance frequency that changes as it deforms."
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I can't believe humor like this was downvoted. It's much better than the usual ascii-art swastika spam.
"a lattice containing conductive metal..." (Score:4, Funny)
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Well, we already got Skynet. [skynetworldwide.com]
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Are they 50 ohm?
print/manufacture it in the shape you want? (Score:2)
and let it deform to the other shape? of course usually what you would want would be 2 shapes.. for thermostats or whatever.
it is not that trivial to come up with actual use cases for it I guess since they're doing art instead of funding through industry applications?
Wait a minute (Score:2)
Is this like those pin boards from Spencer gifts at the mall back in the 90's when you could press your face or even extended middle finger into and create a likeness?
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Forgot the citation
https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
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Lmao! I have a similar story from the same era. Although not quite as noteworthy.
I was at the mall with a few friends, it was a 3 level mall in my home town. There was a "crystal" store a few shops down from the Spencer's, on the the second or maybe third floor. We all walk in out of boredom mostly, but also because crystals are awesome. Looking around talking among ourselves we are approached by the "caretaker". One of my friends feeling awkward, asks a question about one of the items for sale.
The store
So what? (Score:4, Funny)
I made 3 of those years ago. I call them my kids.
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This one is liquid metal. They basically built the T-1000.
Thanks guys, we know who to blame for the war against the machines.
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Odo (Score:2)
Is Rene Auberjenois still alive?
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I knew it! (Score:2)
FTFA
I recognised that face [arstechnica.net] immediately!
Shape Shifting (Score:2)
MIT is great at self promotion (Score:1)