Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

origami

Origami-inspired robotic plants grow with their environment

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How do you deploy an environmental sensor to collect climate change readings over a prolonged period on an uninhabited island without failing? How do you power a seismic detector to operate for months in an underwater cave?

In environments that are difficult to reach because of the hazards or hardships for humans, a device behaving like a native plant could be the answer.

This is the approach taken by Suyi Li, associate professor in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, and Clemson professor and collaborator Ian Walker. Their work is being advanced thanks to a four-year, $840,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. [Read more…] about Origami-inspired robotic plants grow with their environment

StilFold sells its first ‘industrial origami’ metal-folding machine to USA

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Manufacturing startup StilFold has sold its first “industrial origami” metal-folding machine to industry, in a deal with Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the USA.

Studies suggest manufacturing accounts for more than half of the total environmental impact of the US economy. Stockholm-based StilFold is pioneering the use of curve folding and robotics to build things more sustainably.

The company has created groundbreaking technology which involves the use of a specialist robotic cell and computational design software to fold flat sheet metal over curves to create complex, light and sustainable new structures, using minimal component parts. [Read more…] about StilFold sells its first ‘industrial origami’ metal-folding machine to USA

Georgia Tech partners with Stilfold to advance ‘industrial origami’ engineering program

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Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is partnering with Stockholm-based startup Stilfold to roll out a pioneering initiative that will teach students innovative new approaches to sustainable manufacturing, inspired by the Japanese art of origami.

Stilfold is a leading design and technology startup pioneering the use of curve folding and robotics to build things more sustainably. The company says its “groundbreaking technology”, dubbed “industrial origami”, involves the use of robots to fold flat sheet metal over curves to create strong and sustainable new structures.

The tech is currently being used to build a lightweight electric motorcycle called the Stilride 1; and the world’s first climate-neutral car (in partnership with Polestar). [Read more…] about Georgia Tech partners with Stilfold to advance ‘industrial origami’ engineering program

Stilfold patents its ‘industrial origami’ manufacturing technology

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Swedish design and technology company Stilfold – the parent company of electromobility startup Stilride – has been granted its first patent right for its innovative “industrial origami” manufacturing technology.

Stilfold’s technology enables designers to produce complex, light and sustainable structures by folding flat sheet metal over curves using computational design and advanced robotics.

The Swedish patent covers the core technology that enables Stilfold to design and build sophisticated products using origami-inspired curve folding. [Read more…] about Stilfold patents its ‘industrial origami’ manufacturing technology

Startup uses ‘industrial origami’ technique to build electric motorbikes

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Swedish technology and design startup STILRIDE is to produce sustainable electric motorcycles and scooters using a groundbreaking manufacturing process dubbed “industrial origami”.

The trailblazing technique involves robots which are able to fold single sheets of recyclable steel into intricate, lightweight and durable new structures – significantly reducing the environmental impact of production.

This process is being used to create the chassis for a fleet of next-generation e-motorcycles which will be made available to consumers in Europe later this year. [Read more…] about Startup uses ‘industrial origami’ technique to build electric motorbikes

Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots

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Researchers at the National University of Singapore have created a new metallic material which they say is suitable for flexible soft robots. (See video below.)

NUS Assistant Professor Chen Po-Yen (main picture, right) and doctoral student Yang Haitao and their team say the new material is also suitable for “origami robots”.

Origami robots are described as “state-of-the-art soft and flexible robots” that are being tested for use in various applications including drug delivery in human bodies, search and rescue missions in disaster environments and humanoid robotic arms. [Read more…] about Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots