Four-dimensional Printing -- the Additive Manufacturing Technology of Intelligent Components

Abstract

4D printing technology has aroused widespread attention in the academic and industrial communities since its conceptualization in 2013. It is an additive manufacturing technology for fabricating intelligent components and a revolutionary manufacturing technology based on the high degree of cross-integration of the disciplines including materials, mechanical engineering, dynamics, information, etc. This review paper clarifies the concept and connotation of 4D printing and introduces the application prospects of 4D printing in aerospace, automotive, biomedical and software robots. The state of the art of intelligent component design, simulation, materials, manufacturing processes & equipment, and functional evaluation of intelligent components in 4D printing are also describe. Some existing problems are pointed out, and the research thoughts on 4D printing are put forward. Finally, we propose the development direction and research focus of 4D printing in the future.