4.6 Article

Packing and deploying Soft Origami to and from cylindrical volumes with application to automotive airbags

Journal

ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
Volume 3, Issue 9, Pages -

Publisher

ROYAL SOC
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160429

Keywords

Soft Origami; textile folding; cylindrical packing; airbag; inflatables

Funding

  1. National Science Foundation
  2. Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  3. NSF [EFRI-ODISSEI-1240417]
  4. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program [1247046]
  5. Autoliv

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Packing soft-sheet materials of approximately zero bending stiffness using Soft Origami (origami patterns applied to soft-sheet materials) into cylindrical volumes and their deployment via mechanisms or internal pressure (inflation) is of interest in fields including automobile airbags, deployable heart stents, inflatable space habitats, and dirigible and parachute packing. This paper explores twofold patterns, the 'flasher' and the 'inverted-cone fold', for packing soft-sheet materials into cylindrical volumes. Two initial packing methods and mechanisms are examined for each of the flasher and inverted-cone fold patterns. An application to driver's side automobile airbags is performed, and deployment tests are completed to compare the influence of packing method and origami pattern on deployment performance. Following deployment tests, two additional packing methods for the inverted-cone fold pattern are explored and applied to automobile airbags. It is shown that modifying the packing method (using different methods to impose the same base pattern on the soft-sheet material) can lead to different deployment performance. In total, two origami patterns and six packing methods are examined, and the benefits of using Soft Origami patterns and packing methods are discussed. Soft Origami is presented as a viable method for efficiently packing soft-sheet materials into cylindrical volumes.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Deployable Euler Spiral Connectors

Collin Ynchausti, Nathan Brown, Spencer P. Magleby, Anton E. Bowden, Larry L. Howell

Summary: This paper introduces the design and application of deployable Euler spiral connectors (DESCs). Compact compliant mechanisms can be designed using a combination of series and parallel Euler spiral beam models. The force-deflection behavior and stress of DESCs are validated through comparisons with finite element analysis and experimental data.

JOURNAL OF MECHANISMS AND ROBOTICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

The Mixed-Body Model: A Method for Predicting Large Deflections in Stepped Cantilever Beams

Brandon S. Sargent, Collin R. Ynchausti, Todd G. Nelson, Larry L. Howell

Summary: This paper presents a method for predicting the endpoint coordinates, stress, and force of stepped cantilever beams under large deflections. The method, called the mixed-body model (MBM), combines small deflection theory with the pseudo-rigid-body model for large deflections. Through comparisons with other models, finite element analysis, numerical boundary value solutions, and physical prototypes, the MBM is proven to provide accurate results in various scenarios. Optimization of the MBM parameters further improves the consistency and reduces the error.

JOURNAL OF MECHANISMS AND ROBOTICS-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Laminar emergent flexural fold joints: Planar compliant mechanisms with large-angle near-revolute motion

Robert J. Lang, Larry L. Howell

Summary: This study presents a compliant joint that allows near-revolute joint motion over a large folding angle, making it suitable for origami and kirigami mechanisms that preserve the kinematic behavior of zero-thickness idealizations based on perfect folds.

EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Approaches for Minimizing Joints in Single-Degree-of-Freedom Origami-Based Mechanisms

Nathan C. Brown, Collin Ynchausti, Amanda Lytle, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Summary: This paper introduces a visual and iterative approach to eliminating redundant constraints in origami-based mechanisms through joint removal, and provides examples of several techniques for joint removal.

JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Considering thickness-accommodation, nesting, grounding and deployment in design of Miura-ori based space arrays

Diana Bolanos, Collin Ynchausti, Nathan Brown, Hunter Pruett, Jared Hunter, Brooklyn Clark, Terri Bateman, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Summary: The Miura-ori pattern has favorable qualities for designing deployable space arrays, but also poses challenges such as thickness-accommodation, nesting, grounding, and deployment. It is important to address and mitigate these challenges when designing Miura-ori systems.

MECHANISM AND MACHINE THEORY (2022)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

An ultra-wideband origami microwave absorber

Akash Biswas, Constantinos L. Zekios, Collin Ynchausti, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby, Stavros Georgakopoulos

Summary: Designers face the challenge of balancing the trade-off between manufacturing cost and performance as they aim to increase the bandwidth of absorbers. To address this challenge, researchers propose a new approach that combines origami math with electromagnetics to develop an ultra-wideband absorber with minimal fabrication and assembly cost. This novel design successfully achieves an absorptivity above 90% in a 24.6:1 bandwidth, demonstrating the potential for practical applications in mitigating signal interference.

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2022)

Article Mathematics

Miura-Ori Inspired Smooth Sheet Attachments for Zipper-Coupled Tubes

Dylan C. Webb, Elissa Reynolds, Denise M. Halverson, Larry L. Howell

Summary: This article introduces a new design for smooth sheet attachment that can unfold simultaneously with zipper-coupled tubes to cover the entire surface without additional actuation, and it is compatible with asymmetric zipper-coupled tubes.

MATHEMATICS (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Selecting and Optimizing Origami Flasher Pattern Configurations for Finite-Thickness Deployable Space Arrays

Diana Bolanos, Katie Varela, Brandon Sargent, Mark A. Stephen, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Summary: The design parameters, objectives, and trade-offs of origami flasher pattern configurations are the focus of this paper, with a goal to improve understanding and enable engineering applications. The methods presented aim to provide clarity on the effects of tuning flasher parameters based on existing synthesis tools. The results are demonstrated through the design of a flasher-based deployable LiDAR telescope, where optimization is used to converge on optimal design parameters and implemented in proof-of-concept hardware.

JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN (2023)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Optimizing geometry for EM performance to design volume-efficient Miura-ori for reflectarray antennas

Hunter T. Pruett, Abdul-Sattar Kaddour, Stavros V. Georgakopoulos, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Summary: Trends in the aerospace industry drive the need for smaller, cheaper, yet high-gain antennas. This study presents a thick, flat-foldable origami design, called volume-efficient Miura-ori (VEMO), for deployable reflectarray antennas. By maximizing the surface area while meeting volume and aspect ratio constraints, the VEMO design offers an efficient solution for antenna applications.

EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS (2022)

Article Sport Sciences

Examining European Talent Development Environments: Athlete, Parent and Coach Perceptions

Barnaby Sargent Megicks, Kevin Till, Fieke Rongen, Ian Cowburn, Adam Gledhill, Thomas Mitchell, Stacey Emmonds, Sergio Lara-Bercial

Summary: Talent Development Environments (TDEs) are designed to provide the appropriate conditions for youth athletes to realize their full sporting potential, and how they are designed and operated is of great importance for the development of elite athletes. This study assessed the quality of TDEs across 5 European countries, comparing athlete, parent and coach perceptions. Overall, perceptions of European TDEs were positive. Coaches reported higher perceptions of TDE quality compared to athletes and parents, athletes reported marginally higher perceptions compared to parents. Stakeholder perceptions varied most for the Holistic Quality Preparation subscale, highlighting perceived differences in TDE support for rounded athlete development. From an organizational perspective, identified strengths and weaknesses provide direction to coach and parent education. Practically, TDE leaders should consider how they can refine stakeholder coordination through integrating stakeholder perceptions as valuable feedback into their environment, especially for intangible factors.

JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES (2022)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Zero-curvature deformation properties and 3R pseudo-rigid-body model of large-deflection Euler spiral beams

Mohui Jin, Collin Ynchausti, Larry L. Howell

Summary: Euler spiral beams can lay flat when proper loads are applied, enabling them to be used in compact deployable compliant mechanisms. However, the conditions for zero-curvature deformation and effective models for predicting deformation are still unclear. This paper describes the shape of Euler spirals using size-independent quantities and derives the large-deflection equations for Euler spiral beams. The zero-curvature deformation properties and conditions are studied, and a 3R pseudo-rigid-body model is proposed. The results facilitate the use of zero-curvature deformation in developing compact mechanisms and analyzing large deflection of Euler spiral beams.

MECHANISM AND MACHINE THEORY (2023)

Article Biophysics

An Aggregate Sternal Force-Deflection Model

Brandon Sargent, Diana Bolanos, Victor Garcia, Larry Howell

Summary: Understanding the force-deflection behavior of the sternum is crucial for designing implant devices for chest wall deformity repair. This study utilizes empirical data to develop models and finds age and gender differences in the behavior. The results show that stiffness of the sternum varies with age, with childhood, adolescence, and adulthood exhibiting different patterns.

JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME (2023)

Article Engineering, Mechanical

Adjustable, radii-controlled embedded lamina (RadiCEL) hinges for folding of thick origami-adapted systems

Collin Ynchausti, Spencer Shirley, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Summary: This work proposes a method for creating hinge-like motion using internal membranes between rigid panels. Two configurations, RadiCEL and RC-ReCS, are described for planar, single-folding mechanisms. The adjustability of these configurations is discussed to meet various design requirements. A comparison is made, focusing on axial parasitic motion. The application of the RadiCEL hinge in a foldable metasurface antenna is also presented.

MECHANISM AND MACHINE THEORY (2023)

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Modeling of the chest wall response to prolonged bracing in pectus carinatum

Brandon Sargent, Katie Varela, Dennis Eggett, Emily McKenna, Christina Bates, Rebeccah Brown, Victor Garcia, Larry Howell

Summary: Pectus carinatum, a chest wall deformity, can be effectively treated using external braces. Empirical studies were conducted on 185 patients from 2018 to 2020 to analyze the severity of the deformity, treatment pressures, and time of wear. Two statistical models were created to predict changes in pressure and response in the chest wall due to prolonged bracing. These models show significant correlations between pressure, time, and changes in the deformity, and can aid in treatment planning and design of future treatment systems.

PLOS ONE (2023)

Editorial Material Multidisciplinary Sciences

Extending research impact by sharing maker information

Larry L. Howell, Terri Bateman

Summary: The availability of maker resources allows researchers to share information with various audiences, expanding the impact of research and inspiring its extension and application.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2023)

No Data Available