A dynamically reprogrammable surface with self-evolving shape morphing

Abstract

Dynamic shape-morphing soft materials systems are ubiquitous in living organisms; they are also of rapidly increasing relevance to emerging technologies in soft machines 1-4 , flexible electronics 5-7 , and smart medicines 8,9 . Soft matter equipped with responsive components can switch between designed shapes or structures, but cannot support the types of dynamic morphing capabilities needed to reproduce natural, continuous processes of interest for many applications [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] . Challenges lie in the development of schemes to reprogram target shapes post fabrication, especially when complexities associated with the operating physics and disturbances from the environment can prohibit the use of deterministic theoretical models to guide inverse design and control strategies 3,[28][29][30][31][32] . Here, we present a mechanical metasurface constructed from a matrix of filamentary metal traces, driven by reprogrammable, distributed Lorentz forces that follow from passage of electrical currents in the presence of a static magnetic field. The resulting system demonstrates complex, dynamic morphing capabilities with response times within 0.1 s. Implementing an in-situ stereo-imaging feedback strategy with a digitally controlled actuation scheme guided by an optimization algorithm, yields surfaces that can self-evolve into a wide range of 3-dimensional (3D) target shapes with high precision, including an ability to morph against extrinsic or intrinsic perturbations. These concepts support a data-driven approach to the design of dynamic, soft matter, with many unique characteristics.

Passively addressed robotic morphing surface (PARMS) based on machine learning

“…This limits the independently controllable parameters to 2N, which does not allow high programmability (37). The low-profile magnetic actuator array described by Bai et al (62) used an addressing scheme that is unique to magnetic actuators and allows 4N independent inputs to control the deformation of N 2 DoFs. However, the current through each conductive segment must come from adjacent segments so that the pixels cannot be addressed fully independently.…”

“…Compared to other approaches, matrix addressing demonstrates a compact control which could enable applications in portable and low-profile morphing surfaces. In section S7, we provide a more detailed benchmarking of PARMS against other works (33,37,(62)(63)(64)(65)(66) from various perspectives. The comparison table is shown in table S5 and the radar chart is shown in fig.…”

“…In contrast, the voltage on each pixel of our PARMS array can be determined fully independently, enabling a larger range of actuated shapes. Furthermore, the magnetic actuation mechanism in ( 62 ) requires a large externally applied magnetic field. In our PARMS array, the mechanism to actuate the device operates within the actuator array, without the need for external field sources.…”

“…LCE bending actuators refer to (37). Bending EM actuators refer to (62). 120 s on each side of the PVDF.…”

Air‐Permeable Textile Bioelectronics for Wearable Energy Harvesting and Active Sensing

“…Wearable bioelectronics have increased in popularity over the last decade with the rapid advancement of the Internet of Things and 5G wireless networks. [1][2][3][4] Rather than monitoring intermittently and diagnosing patients in a hospital setting, wearable bioelectronics open the path to continuous healthcare monitoring, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] which can contribute to illness prevention through early diagnostics. [17,18] It can also provide a wealth of physiological data for analysis across all sorts of conditions air-permeable textile is capable of reliably providing an output power of 7.975 W m −2 .…”