Making shapes from modules by magnification

Abstract — We present a distributed algorithm for creating a modular shape by magnification. The input to the algorithm is presented with a small scale version of the desired shape and a magnification factor m. The output of the system is the object that corresponds to the m-fold magnification of the input shape. We describe and analyze a distributed algorithm for this capability and present simulation results. Making shapes by magnification can be viewed as a programming interface for creating objects by programming matter. I

Sticker controller and sticker programming for smart sheets (self-folding sheets)

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-267).This thesis describes a self-folding sheet that is capable of origami-style autonomous folding. We describe the hardware device we designed and fabricated. This device, called a self-folding sheet, is a sheet with a box-pleat pattern and an integrated electronic substrate and actuators. The sheet is programmed and controlled using a new idea called sticker programming. We describe the architecture of a machine that can be programmed by sticker programming and its instantiation. We also describe planning algorithm and automatic programming algorithm for controlling a given sheet to self-fold into a desired shape. Finally we present experiments with a 4 x 4 hardware device and an 8 x 8 hardware device.by Byoungkwon An.S.M