The field of micromechanics is now a well-established engineering domain with a demonstrated impact on science, technology, and product development. At the core of this technology are movable mechanical structures, MEMS, with dimensions ranging from a few to 100’s microns, and rigid components that rely on external links for power supply and control. Removing these constraints would enable a new technology platform for responsive systems that can change shapes, deploy, gather energy from the local environment, and self-propel. These shape morphing systems create a new paradigm in engineering where the distinction between materials and mechanisms gets vague.
This presentation will introduce the fundamentals and limitations of current micro-machines and discuss the prospect of creating shape morphing structures by using origami and Kirigami techniques combined with nanoscale materials.
- Webinar
- Micro and Nanotechnologies
