Final Project Proposal
I am interested in combining some of the origami tesselations/3D plyhedrons developed by Ron Resch and adding responsive/actuated components to them. The basic idea would be to make a reconfiguable/collapsable surface structure that could go from a flat sheet to a 3 dimensional form through a network of linear acutuators. A mechanically activated mesh structure, basically. I think the mesh faces could be made out of composites, verticies could be some type of flexure joint, and the geometry could shift via a network of linear actuators.
OK. Round Two. I'm still interested in some of the folding techniques but have had some time to think about the application of these forms to an actual project. I want to make an object - right now it's a lamp - that uses the folding/pleating techniques described below and shape memory alloy to respond to/visualize environmental conditions. Eg. A lamp that expands and contracts based on ambient light levels or color temperature (or another input - could be room temperature, time of day, etc.)
Light temperature and the ambient conditions of different spaces are pretty hard to understand relative to one another. Perhaps it could act like a light meter that responds spatially to given conditions - a quick google search led me to this sensor which seems like a good starting point.
A few different folding patterns and the resultant 3-dimensional surfaces. I think the planar faces of these surfaces could make use of composite plates, but I still need to come up with a good solution for the folds.
Some Issey Miyake lamps that pack flat based on similar principles.
