Deployable origami-inspired barriers

A barrier, comprising

• a sheet extending between two opposing surfaces;
• a plurality of rigid sections attached to or incorporated into the sheet, wherein the plurality of rigid sections form a plurality of stories between the two opposing surfaces, the plurality of rigid sections defining gaps therebetween;
• and
• a plurality of hinges, each of the plurality of hinges is adjacent to a corresponding one of the gaps, the plurality of hinges formed from portions of the sheet, the plurality of hinges intersect with each other at at least one vertex, wherein some of the plurality of hinges that intersect at the at least one vertex are collinear;
• wherein the barrier is configured to be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and an at least partially expanded state.

A method to make a barrier, the method comprising:

• providing a sheet extending between two opposing surfaces;
• defining a plurality of rigid sections on the sheet, wherein the plurality of rigid sections form a plurality of stories between the two opposing surfaces, wherein the plurality of rigid sections define gaps therebetween;
• and
• forming a plurality of hinges from portions of the sheet, each of the plurality of hinges is adjacent to a corresponding one of the gaps, wherein at most only one pair of hinges intersecting at one vertex is collinear.