Jun 30 2010Shredder Candy: Robotic Self-Folding Paper
Paper that folds itself: knowing the Japanese, it's probably what they had in mind when they invented origami BUT I DON'T LIKE IT. This is a demonstration of a sheet folding itself into a boat, then a plane. MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DECEPTICON!
Researchers embedded the pre-creased "shape-shifting sheet" with tiny switches and circuitry strips that spring into action when triggered by jolts of electricity, bringing the "origami robot" to life.
"The shape-shifting sheets demonstrate an end-to-end process that is a first step towards making everyday objects whose mechanical properties can be programmed," says project leader Robert Wood.
Interesting -- but can it crumble itself up into a ball and throw itself away? Get it?! Because it belongs with the rest of the trash. YOU WILL NEVER BE A NINJA STAR!
Hit the jump for a video of the paper in action.
Video: 'Origami Robot' Folds Itself Into Paper Airplane [wired]
Thanks to Uncle_FUJ, Eric, Captain_O!, Brad B, Harrison, G, vincent "the robot slayer" p, Tarantula and sammy, who not only would not only throw that bot away, but set the trashcan on fire. That's what I'm talkin' about, guys!
Reader Comments
1. Matt - June 30, 2010 7:03 PM
wow looks pretty cool
2. Nick - June 30, 2010 7:04 PM
I wonder how far that plane flys
3. Crazy - June 30, 2010 7:12 PM
Self folding? Robo-paper? Call upon the papier mache robots in defense!!
4. Phoenix778m - June 30, 2010 7:17 PM
So what is this supposed to do? How many times can it fold before I can't tear it in half?
5. Calyster - June 30, 2010 7:31 PM
amazing but pointless
6. Tony - June 30, 2010 7:40 PM
Does this mean the future robots can fold into tiny place to annihilate us?
7. Dishy - June 30, 2010 7:41 PM
Will wonders never crease.
8. Max Boivin - June 30, 2010 7:58 PM
I'm not convince by the boat.
9. Cakeflourz - June 30, 2010 8:30 PM
Don't worry guys, that plane is NOT aerodynamically sound. And if it somehow does manage to take off....well I've got some Stingers that are just itching to be fired. >:D
10. WhiskyLick - June 30, 2010 8:30 PM
Great, now we're only 200 years away from the crazy folding car from the SciFi Channel commercial.
11. just some dude - June 30, 2010 8:40 PM
@6: Yes, but that means that all we'll need to do is install weather stripping when the robots attack.
12. gannggstaz - June 30, 2010 8:53 PM
Does this use magnets, motors, magic, or something else?
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14. naas=ε/̵͇̿̿/'̿'̿ ̿ ̿̿ ٩(๏̯͡๏)۶ <- firstard - June 30, 2010 9:41 PM
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15. Angel Mass - June 30, 2010 10:41 PM
This is so old
16. tom - June 30, 2010 11:16 PM
FIRST!
17. alicia l - June 30, 2010 11:55 PM
thats a cool thing
18. Math - July 1, 2010 12:13 AM
I believe that it folds; I just don't believe that it's paper.
That being said, the faster you can make this into "trick" toilet paper, the faster you can rake in those millions.
19. dondons1987 - July 1, 2010 12:40 AM
nuke it.
20. cbobgo - July 1, 2010 12:49 AM
So was this invented in 1953? Why is the video in black and white?
21. Magneto! - July 1, 2010 1:44 AM
Looks like remote controlled magnets, really. Cool, but if it was actually thin enough to BE paper, then that'd be AMAZING!
22. PenyWise - July 1, 2010 1:51 AM
Is it me or this video has been shoot sometime in like 1970 or what ?
23. Mr. Fights - July 1, 2010 2:20 AM
Wow, this is the first post I've seen where some idiot doesn't comment "First".
24. Calyster - July 1, 2010 3:56 AM
@12 i think its magnet as what i can see
25. fe - July 1, 2010 4:15 AM
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26. Danny - July 1, 2010 4:28 AM
Where's Cutman when you need him?
27. blueZorro - July 1, 2010 4:41 AM
So this is how paper beats rock...but now scissors gotta step it up, lazor scissors!
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29. McFeely Smackup - July 1, 2010 11:56 AM
Building the self folding material was the easy. Redefining the word "paper" was the hard part.
30. Compound9 - July 1, 2010 5:31 PM
Hardly call it paper. but hey if my clothes could fold themselves it would be nice.
31. zomgzomgzomg - July 1, 2010 5:58 PM
KILL IT!
32. Miserino - July 1, 2010 9:08 PM
Cute-Paper!
33. someone - July 2, 2010 3:26 AM
While it is impressive it does bring up some questions. How strong is the material? How strong are the folds in the creasing? If it can be unfolded or torn with easy pressure then it's nothing more then novelty.
I understand that this is just a demonstration to show that objects in the future can be programmed to fit our needs, but how practical is the idea? To design an oven to also be a clothe dryer usually means it won't do either well. This has always been the problem with making a true amphibious car. (and I'm still having nightmares about the flying one) While these things can be made with a certain degree of operation, will they be as practical as specifically designed devices?
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