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Autonomous Robotic Materials: Design and development of climate-adaptive robotic structures through bio-based actuation in mechanical metamaterials
The aim of this project is the design and development of climate-adaptive robotic structures through bio-based actuation in mechanical metamaterials. Modern technologies depend on external energy sources, their complexity makes them prone to failure, and the high quantitative use of these systems has a negative impact on the environment. Passive machines are emerging technologies that operate with external stimuli. A further step in the development of more sustainable passive machines is the use of bio-based actuation. This research contributes to the research field of bio-based, passive material technologies by developing a hygroscopic robotic metamaterial, which integrates distributed actuation at its cellular level. The proposed metamaterial achieves transformations behaviors similar to the ones happening in nature, where the functional adaptation of an organism to environmental conditions is related to changes in its microstructure. The autonomous self-shaping of this robotic metamaterial is enabled by the embedment of wood veneers, which sense, control and actuate, in a 3d-printed auxetic pattern. As part of this research, a framework for material programming has been developed. By defining cell, material, and actuation parameters, the following geometric shape-changes can be achieved: scaling, bending, or shaping to single or double-curved geometries. This framework builds the basis for an intuitive design process of autonomous geometric shape-changes. The designs are presented in physical models and in a digital simulation. To demonstrate this framework, macro-scale functional robots that can perform small tasks such as locomotion, scooping, or gripping have been designed.
ITECH M.Sc. Thesis Project 2021: Autonomous Robotic Materials: Design and development of climate-adaptive robotic structures through bio-based actuation in mechanical metamaterials
Francesca A. Maisto, Lena Strobel, Irina Voineag
Thesis Advisers: Dylan Wood, Yasaman Tahouni
Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Achim Menges
Second Supervisor: Prof. Jan Knippers