Origami Spring-Inspired Shape Morphing for Flexible Robotics

Flexible robotics are capable of achieving various functionalities by shape morphing, benefiting from their compliant bodies and reconfigurable structures. In this study, we construct and study a class of origami springs generalized from the known interleaved origami spring, as promising candidates for shape morphing in flexible robotics. These springs are found to exhibit nonlinear stretch-twist coupling and linear/nonlinear mechanical response in the compression/tension region, analyzed by the demonstrated continuum mechanics models, experiments, and finite element simulations. To improve the mechanical performance such as the damage resistance, we establish an origami rigidization method by adding additional creases to the spring system. Guided by the theoretical framework, we experimentally realize three types of flexible robotics-origami spring ejectors, crawlers, and transformers. These robots show the desired functionality and outstanding mechanical performance. The proposed concept of origami-aided design is expected to pave the way to facilitate the diverse shape morphing of flexible robotics.

Automated summary

The study introduces origami springs with nonlinear stretch-twist coupling and linear/nonlinear mechanical response, which are analyzed through experiments and numerical simulations. Improving mechanical performance, such as damage resistance, can be achieved by adding additional creases to the spring system for origami rigidization. By utilizing origami-aided design, three types of flexible robots, including origami spring ejectors, crawlers, and transformers, are experimentally realized with desired functionality and outstanding mechanical performance.