Field-programmable robotic folding sheet
Abstract Shape transformation by folding showcases intricate geometrical change over dimension, that has long provided the embodied intelligence of autonomous systems capable of adapting to challenging environments and displaying functional versatilities. Hinge-face material assembly interfaced by s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61838-3 |
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| _version_ | 1849342196345470976 |
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| author | Hyunkyu Park Yongrok Jeong Woojong Kim Jungrak Choi Junseong Ahn Jun-Ho Jeong Inkyu Park Jung Kim |
| author_facet | Hyunkyu Park Yongrok Jeong Woojong Kim Jungrak Choi Junseong Ahn Jun-Ho Jeong Inkyu Park Jung Kim |
| author_sort | Hyunkyu Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Shape transformation by folding showcases intricate geometrical change over dimension, that has long provided the embodied intelligence of autonomous systems capable of adapting to challenging environments and displaying functional versatilities. Hinge-face material assembly interfaced by shape-morphing mechanisms produced the associated means. However, the fixed hinge structure limits the accessible modes of folding configurations despite the existing capability of rectification in plant. Here we introduce a programming strategy of the two-dimensional fold of a robotic sheet into an unbounded set of hinge configurations in the field post-deployment, which is referred to as being field-programmable, driven by a densely distributed electro-thermo-responsive system design. An interconnected set of metallic resistors, incorporated into the thermo-responsive polymer film, performs the dual functionalities of a heater and thermoreceptor, selectively recruited to configure folds through electronic modulation of its electrical power distribution. Electronic layouts, computational algorithms, and closed-loop control schemes present an intuitive means of blending user intent in situ, yielding a servoed, swift, and robust fold-programming process. The system is intrinsically driven by embeddable electronics to enable autonomous system engineering, as potentiated by multi-purpose applications in grasping and locomotion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0fdb461536a04370b5096465328fc613 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-0fdb461536a04370b5096465328fc6132025-08-20T03:43:27ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-61838-3Field-programmable robotic folding sheetHyunkyu Park0Yongrok Jeong1Woojong Kim2Jungrak Choi3Junseong Ahn4Jun-Ho Jeong5Inkyu Park6Jung Kim7Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National UniversityDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyElectronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea UniversityKorea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM)Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyAbstract Shape transformation by folding showcases intricate geometrical change over dimension, that has long provided the embodied intelligence of autonomous systems capable of adapting to challenging environments and displaying functional versatilities. Hinge-face material assembly interfaced by shape-morphing mechanisms produced the associated means. However, the fixed hinge structure limits the accessible modes of folding configurations despite the existing capability of rectification in plant. Here we introduce a programming strategy of the two-dimensional fold of a robotic sheet into an unbounded set of hinge configurations in the field post-deployment, which is referred to as being field-programmable, driven by a densely distributed electro-thermo-responsive system design. An interconnected set of metallic resistors, incorporated into the thermo-responsive polymer film, performs the dual functionalities of a heater and thermoreceptor, selectively recruited to configure folds through electronic modulation of its electrical power distribution. Electronic layouts, computational algorithms, and closed-loop control schemes present an intuitive means of blending user intent in situ, yielding a servoed, swift, and robust fold-programming process. The system is intrinsically driven by embeddable electronics to enable autonomous system engineering, as potentiated by multi-purpose applications in grasping and locomotion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61838-3 |
| spellingShingle | Hyunkyu Park Yongrok Jeong Woojong Kim Jungrak Choi Junseong Ahn Jun-Ho Jeong Inkyu Park Jung Kim Field-programmable robotic folding sheet Nature Communications |
| title | Field-programmable robotic folding sheet |
| title_full | Field-programmable robotic folding sheet |
| title_fullStr | Field-programmable robotic folding sheet |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field-programmable robotic folding sheet |
| title_short | Field-programmable robotic folding sheet |
| title_sort | field programmable robotic folding sheet |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61838-3 |
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