Creating Linkage Permutations to Prevent Self-Intersection and Enable Deployable Networks of Thick-Origami

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 12936 - 9
• Main Authors: Yellowhorse, Alden, Lang, Robert J., Tolman, Kyler, Howell, Larry L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 28.08.2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/166/988; 639/766/25; Geometry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Kinematics; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31180-4

Origami concepts show promise for creating complex deployable systems. However, translating origami to thick (non-paper) materials introduces challenges, including that thick panels do not flex to facilitate folding and the chances for self-intersection of components increase. This work introduces methods for creating permutations of linkage-based, origami-inspired mechanisms that retain desired kinematics but avoid self-intersection and enable their connection into deployable networks. Methods for reconfiguring overconstrained linkages and implementing them as modified origami-inspired mechanisms are proved and demonstrated for multiple linkage examples. Equations are derived describing the folding behavior of these implementations. An approach for designing networks of linkage-based origami vertices is demonstrated and applications for tessellations are described. The results offer the opportunity to exploit origami principles to create deployable systems not previously feasible.