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Abstract Recent studies have shown that reconfigurable acoustic arrays inspired from rigid origami structures can be used to radiate and focus acoustic waves. Yet, there is a need for exploration of single-degree-of-freedom deployment to be integrated with such arrays for sake of tailoring wave focusing. This research explores a reconfigurable acoustic array inspired from a regular Miura-ori unit cell and threefold-symmetric Bricard linkage. The system focuses on acoustic waves and has single-degree-of-freedom motion when incorporated with a modified threefold-symmetric Bricard linkage. Three configurations of the array are analyzed where array facets that converge towards the center axis are considered to vibrate like baffled pistons and generate acoustic waves into the surrounding fluid. An analytical model is constructed to explore the near-field acoustic focusing behavior of the proposed acoustic array. The wave focusing capabilities of the array are verified through proof-of-principle experiments. The results show that the wave focusing of the array is influenced by the geometric parameters of the facets and the relative distance of facets to the center axis, in agreement with simplified ray acoustics estimates. These findings underscore the fundamental relationship between focusing sound radiators and geometric acoustics principles. The results encourage broader exploration of acoustic array designs inspired from integrated single-degree-of-freedom linkages and origami structures for sake of straightforward array deployment and reconfiguration. 

Recent developments have shown that spatial structures devised from origami or low-dimensional rigid linkage mechanisms can be used to construct deployable arrays for antennas or satellites. Yet, some of these structures are limited to deployment in fixed planes or directions, or do not define straightforward processes for deployment. To surmount these limitations, this research introduces a reconfigurable single-degree-of-freedom spatial structure devised from a Kresling-inspired mechanism with integrated scissor arms. Analytical models are constructed to demonstrate compaction, deployment, and acoustic wave guiding capabilities of the proposed, modular structure. The influences of the geometric parameters on compaction, deployment, and scissor arm orientation are also explored, and reveal modular scissor arm behavior and large deployment-to-compaction area ratios. The acoustic wave guiding capabilities of the Kresling-inspired scissor structure are exemplified via a structure using spiral scissor arms, thereby proposing a novel concept for the construction of deployable wave guiding arrays. Experimental studies with model arrays complement the analytical findings of both the geometric reconfigurations and wave guiding functionality. Finally, out-of-plane configurations are depicted to demonstrate the three-dimensional shape change capabilities of the Kresling-inspired scissor structure. The results in this study encourage broader exploration of the interfaces between origami inspired structures and rigid linkage mechanisms.

 

The pandemic has derailed the traditional networking vehicles to connect aspiring, ambitious students with industry professionals. As a result, the flow of young talent to best-fitting industry outlets is being misdirected. Moreover, many students are not inclined to accept virtual meetings as a replacement for face-to-face engagement while professionals often prefer virtual meetings as means to maximize productivity. The latter disparity has led to campus “career fairs” turning into stay-at-home experiences that students notoriously lament. Without bridges to network students with the right industry professionals to optimize hiring and onboarding processes, our society faces increasing early career turnover, loss of productivity, and disenchantment of young talent with the technical outlets that could await them. This talk will first clarify the crisis facing industries as a result of pandemic-motivated physical distancing practices. We will discuss lessons learned from recent attempts to foster genuine connections between students and the industry professionals they could work alongside in the future. The talk will conclude with a call to action on part of both students and professionals to collectively rebuild the networking system before a temporary disruption turns into a generational failure. 

A vision for soft, autonomous materials entails synthesis of multiple senses in multifunctional materials where material response requires sensitivity to external stimuli. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are of particular interest for optically induced mechanical response due to the ability to transform external stimuli into large, reversible shape change. Specifically, temperature-responsive hydrogels are broadly used and can be designed to achieve deformation through the photothermal effect as a result of surface plasmonic resonance of gold nanoparticles. Here, a multi-material stimuli-responsive hydrogel network with embedded gold nanoparticles is demonstrated in a unit cell pattern with anisotropic swelling behavior in response to visible light. Reversible, anisotropic swelling leads to bending motion that contributes to the development of soft, autonomous materials. 

Recent studies have exemplified the potential for curved origami-inspired acoustic arrays to focus waves. Yet, reconfigurable structures that adopt curvatures are often difficult to translate to practice due to mechanical deformation of the facets that inhibit straightforward folding. In addition, not all tessellations that curve upon folding are also flat-foldable, which is a key advantage of portability inherent to many origami-inspired structures. This research introduces a new concept of partially activated reconfigurable acoustic arrays as a means to mitigate these drawbacks. Here, tessellations are studied where a subset of the facet surfaces are considered to radiate acoustic waves. The analytical results reveal focusing behaviors in such arrays that are otherwise not manifest for the array when fully activated. The focused waves are more intense in amplitude and space for partially activated arrays than fully activated counterparts. These trends are verified by experiment and are also found to be applicable to multiple reconfigurable array geometries. The results encourage broader study of the design space accessible in reconfigurable arrays to capitalize on all of the functionality afforded by origami-inspired wave guiding structures. 

Abstract Curved surfaces are often used to radiate and focus acoustic waves. Yet, when tessellated into reconfigurable surfaces for sake of deployability needs, origami-inspired acoustic arrays may be challenging to hold into curved shape and may not retain flat foldability. On the other hand, deployable mechanisms such as the Hoberman ring are as low-dimensional as many origami tessellations and may maintain curved shape with ease due to ideal rigid bar compositions. This research explores an interface between a Hoberman ring and Miura-ori tessellation that maintain kinematic and geometric compatibility for sake of maintaining curved shapes for sound focusing. The Miura-ori facets are considered to vibrate like baffled pistons and generate acoustic waves that radiate from the ring structure. An analytical model is built to reveal the near field acoustic behavior of acoustic arrays resulting from a Hoberman–Miura system synthesis. Acoustic wave focusing capability is scrutinized and validated through proof-of-principle experiments. Studies reveal wave focusing phenomena distinct to this manifestation of the acoustic array and uncover design and operational influences on wave focusing effectiveness. The results encourage exploration of new interfaces between reconfigurable mechanisms and origami devices where low-dimensional shape change is desired. 

Integrated circuits utilize networked logic gates to compute Boolean logic operations that are the foundation of modern computation and electronics. With the emergence of flexible electronic materials and devices, an opportunity exists to formulate digital logic from compliant, conductive materials. Here, we introduce a general method of leveraging cellular, mechanical metamaterials composed of conductive polymers to realize all digital logic gates and gate assemblies. We establish a method for applying conductive polymer networks to metamaterial constituents and correlate mechanical buckling modes with network connectivity. With this foundation, each of the conventional logic gates is realized in an equivalent mechanical metamaterial, leading to soft, conductive matter that thinks about applied mechanical stress. These findings may advance the growing fields of soft robotics and smart mechanical matter, and may be leveraged across length scales and physics.