MIT Researcher Demos Self-Assembling Objects 69
iONiUM writes "From the article: 'Many are only just getting their heads around the idea of 3D printing but scientists at MIT are already working on an upgrade: 4D printing. At the TED conference in Los Angeles, architect and computer scientist Skylar Tibbits showed how the process allows objects to self-assemble.' There could be many applications for this. Definitely a cool step forward."
Pictures and video of the process.
Industrial Origami is way ahead (Score:5, Interesting)
Industrial Origami, Inc. [industrialorigami.com] is way ahead here. They have a set of techniques for designing punched sheet metal parts which then bend to fold up neatly into boxes or other desired forms. The folded surfaces bend precisely, even when bent by hand. The edges meet and lock together. I've folded up one of their electrical boxes, which comes as a flat sheet ready for hand folding.
It's all done with clever design and finite element analysis to get the bend points to behave in a repeatable way. What they sell is design software for doing this.