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.
Corresponding author Professor Jie Yin said: “The question we’re asking is how to achieve a number of versatile shapes with the fewest number of actuators powering the shapeshifting.
“Here we use a hierarchical concept observed in nature – like layered muscle fibers – but with plastic cubes to create a transforming robot.”
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