Deployable origami-inspired barriers

A method to deploy a barrier, the method comprising:

• providing the barrier that is in an at least partially collapsed state, the barrier including a continuous sheet, a plurality of rigid sections attached to or incorporated into the continuous sheet, and a plurality of hinges formed from the continuous sheet that are disposed between the plurality of rigid sections, the plurality of hinges intersect with each other at at least one vertex, wherein at least some of the plurality of hinges that intersect at the at least one vertex are non-collinear;
• and
• switching the barrier from the at least partially collapsed state to an at least partially expanded state by unfolding the plurality of hinges, wherein the barrier in the at least partially expanded state exhibits at least one of a length, width, or thickness that is greater than the barrier in the at least partially collapsed state.