The world of engineering is constantly evolving, and a team of UCLA engineers has taken a step forward by creating a new class of tunable dynamic material that mimics the inner workings of push puppet toys. These toys, often in the shapes of animals and popular figures, can move or collapse with the push of a button at the bottom of the toys’ base. By understanding the mechanics behind push puppets, researchers have developed a new type of metamaterial with applications in soft robotics, reconfigurable architectures, and space engineering.
Within a push puppet, there are connecting cords that, when pulled taut, will make the toy stand stiff. Conversely, loosening these cords will cause the toy’s “limbs” to go limp. This principle of cord tension serves as the foundation for the newly developed metamaterial. The material is engineered to possess properties with advanced capabilities, including motor-driven or self-actuating cords threaded through interlocking cone-tipped beads. When the cords are activated, they are pulled tight, causing the bead particles to jam and straighten into a line, resulting in the material turning stiff while maintaining its overall structure.
The study published in Materials Horizons highlights the versatile qualities of the lightweight metamaterial that could lead to its incorporation into soft robotics and other reconfigurable structures. The level of tension in the cords can adjust the resulting structure’s stiffness, offering the strongest and stiffest level when fully taut, while incremental changes in tension allow flexibility while maintaining strength. Additionally, structures using this design can collapse and stiffen repeatedly, making them ideal for long-lasting designs that require frequent movements.
Furthermore, the material offers ease of transportation and storage in its undeployed, limp state. Once deployed, the material exhibits pronounced tunability, becoming significantly stiffer and changing its damping capability. The metamaterial has the potential to be self-actuating through artificial tendons, enabling shape adjustments without human control. This innovation opens possibilities for new capabilities in robotics, reconfigurable structures, and space engineering.
The authors of the study, including UCLA engineering experts Ankur Mehta and Jonathan Hopkins, see vast potential applications for the material. These range from self-assembling shelters with collapsible scaffolding to compact shock absorbers with programmable dampening capabilities for vehicles navigating rough terrains. With opportunities to tailor and customize capabilities by altering bead size, shape, and connections, the future of this dynamic material is promising.
The development of tunable dynamic material inspired by push puppet toys marks a significant advancement in the field of engineering. By understanding and replicating the mechanics of these toys, researchers have opened up new avenues for innovation in soft robotics, reconfigurable structures, and space engineering. The potential applications and benefits of this metamaterial are vast, with opportunities for further customization and optimization. As we look ahead, the future of dynamic material mimicking push puppet toys holds exciting possibilities for the advancement of engineering and technology.
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