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AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsKenneth C. Cheung, Samuel Eli Calisch, Neil A. Gershenfeld
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Flexural digital materials are discrete parts that can be assembled into a lattice structure to produce an actuatable structure capable of coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation. The structure comprises a set of discrete flexural digital material units assembled according to a lattice geometry, with a majority of the discrete units being connected, or adapted to be connected, to at least two other units according to the geometry. In response to certain types of loading of the structure, a coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation of at least part of the structure occurs. The deformation of the structure is due to the shape or material composition of the discrete units, the configuration of connections between the units, and/or the configuration of the lattice geometry. Exemplary types of such actuatable structures include airplane wing sections and robotic leg structures. An automated process may be employed for constructing an actuatable structure from flexural digital materials.
An actuatable structure, comprising a set of discrete units, wherein the set of discrete units is assembled into the structure according to a lattice geometry that allows for reversible deformation without compromise of the strength of the structure, wherein a majority of the discrete units are each connected, or are connectible, to at least two other units in the set according to the lattice geometry, and wherein a coordinated reversible spatially-distributed deformation of at least part of the structure occurs in response to changes in load or actuation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.