An Approach to Motion Task-Oriented, Computer-Aided Design of Origami-Inspired Mechanisms

Abstract

The still young field of technical origami products offers considerable potential to give an innovative boost to stagnating product optimizations. The possibility to produce foldable patterns on planar, multifunctional material in two dimensions (2D), and thereof create – even by self-folding – three-dimensional (3D) structures enables a cost-effective and fast manufacturing. However, the complexity of designing transformable origami-based foldings proves to be challenging: there is a methodical gap between the use of known foldpatterns and their expected spatial motion, and the combination of such foldpatterns to generate a desired trajectory – e.g. for sealing, opening or moving. This leaves the creation of foldings to experts of kinematic modeling, who improve the system iteratively based on experience. Against this background, the following contribution presents a design tool for a computer-aided creation of foldings to fulfill given motion tasks. Following a target motion task, an optimization algorithm proposes solutions of origami foldings. The analysis is based on a numerical simulation of the folding motion.