Morphees

Abstract

Figure 1. Morphees are self-actuated flexible mobile devices that adapt their shapes to offer better affordances. (a) E.g a mobile device can shift into a console-like shape by curling two opposite edges and be easily grasped with two hands. Among the six strategies we built to actuate Morphees, here are two high-fidelity prototypes using Shape Memory Alloys (SMA): (b) one using projection and tracking on wood tiles that are actuated with thin SMA wires; and (c) one directly bending a flexible touchscreen (E-Ink and Unmousepad) by using (d) SMA wires that we educated (forged) to remember the shape we needed. ABSTRACT We introduce the term shape resolution, which adds to the existing definitions of screen and touch resolution. We propose a framework, based on a geometric model (Non-Uniform Rational B-splines), which defines a metric for shape resolution in ten features. We illustrate it by comparing the current related work of shape changing devices. We then propose the concept of Morphees that are self-actuated flexible mobile devices adapting their shapes on their own to the context of use in order to offer better affordances. For instance, when a game is launched, the mobile device morphs into a console-like shape by curling two opposite edges to be better grasped with two hands. We then create preliminary prototypes of Morphees in order to explore six different building strategies using advanced shape changing materials (dielectric electro active polymers and shape memory alloys). By comparing the shape resolution of our prototypes, we generate insights to help designers toward creating high shape resolution Morphees.

Frozen Suit

“…We choose not to cover actuation techniques used to trigger a range of tactile sensations such as soft pneumatic [14], actuated cloth [33], nor Shape Memory Alloys based devices [26] as those techniques are not strong enough to actuate body parts.…”

MistForm

“…Surflex [6] relied in shape memory alloys embedded in foam, the Actuated Workbench [27] or BubbleWrap [2] used magnets, while Takashima et al [42] used flat panels mounted on Roomba robots, to mention just some approaches. Works from Coelho and Zigelbaum [7] or Rasmussen et al [36] explore this design space and summarize practical approaches, and Roudaut et al [37] describe shape resolution under ten quantifiable features.…”

jamSheets

“…Considerable research has been conducted to explore devices that can be bent [10,24], actuated [9,23], and flexibly deformed [21,25]. The role of stiffness on flexible displays has been investigated by Kildal and Wilson, who stated that increasing stiffness will have a negative influence on the performance when a user deforms a flexible interface [14].…”

“…For thin sheets, shape memory alloys [22,23,9], Electroactive Polymers (EAP) [20], electromagnets [8] and air bladders [24,30] are among widely used external actuators. Particle jamming and air bladders have been combined to achieve rotating and bending structures [26].…”

“…The way to construct thin pressure and bending sensors with off-the-shelf materials has been introduced [19,23]. We construct our pressure sensor and bending sensor with one layer of copper tape, one layer of 3M velostat [28], and another layer of copper tape.…”