Control-Based 4D Printing: Adaptive 4D-Printed Systems

Abstract

Building on the recent progress of four-dimensional (4D) printing to produce dynamic structures, this study aimed to bring this technology to the next level by introducing control-based 4D printing to develop adaptive 4D-printed systems with highly versatile multi-disciplinary applications, including medicine, in the form of assisted soft robots, smart textiles as wearable electronics and other industries such as agriculture and microfluidics. This study introduced and analysed adaptive 4D-printed systems with an advanced manufacturing approach for developing stimuli-responsive constructs that organically adapted to environmental dynamic situations and uncertainties as nature does. The adaptive 4D-printed systems incorporated synergic integration of three-dimensional (3D)-printed sensors into 4D-printing and control units, which could be assembled and programmed to transform their shapes based on the assigned tasks and environmental stimuli. This paper demonstrates the adaptivity of these systems via a combination of proprioceptive sensory feedback, modeling and controllers, as well as the challenges and future opportunities they present.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) Biocomposite: Processing, Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Applications

“…The self-transformation of the structure is also called self-assembly as the structure can be designed to assemble itself. The concept of 4D printing is a smart structure that consists of rigid materials connected with expandable elements, or it can also be a whole structure made from expandable materials depending on what materials properties are needed and what are the applications [170,171]. The expandable elements can change their shape when exposed to certain stimuli, and this causes the hard parts to move or rotate, resulting in the whole structure transformation.…”

Deformation Process of 3D Printed Structures Made from Flexible Material with Different Values of Relative Density

“…Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printers offered in the market by many manufacturers have generally become very popular due to low prices and wide range of materials available. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-ABS, polylactic acid-PLA, and polyamide are among the most popular and most frequently used [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In general, this is caused by optimised parameters of the technological process and widely discussed methods of reducing the negative effects of thermal shrinkage.…”

“…They come as a response to new technological needs. Some of them have multifunctional properties that offer the possibility of using them in cutting-edge products in the aerospace industry [ 11 ], the automotive industry, robotics [ 14 ], electronics, and biotechnology [ 20 , 21 ]. Reinforced with fibres, they exhibit a high mechanical strength, significantly higher than typical ABS or PLA materials [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Recent progress in extrusion 3D bioprinting of hydrogel biomaterials for tissue regeneration: a comprehensive review with focus on advanced fabrication techniques

“…In summary, although successful fabrication of the engineered nerve constructs achieved through multiple-dispensers and coaxial extrusion bioprintings, future advances in materials will likely enable more flexibility to cell compatibility and adhesion while retaining printability. Furthermore, it seems that Four-dimensional (4D) printing [257,258] is also gaining attention as an emerging method for obtaining external stimuli-responsive constructs and overcome some limitations of 3D bioprinting technologies in creating highresolution constructs.…”