Structures Able to Switch Between Stable Shapes On-Demand

ETH Zurich researchers are on the brink of building 3D objects that can switch between shapes on-demand, relying on one simple solution — material selection.

“One of my main goals was to develop a flat, multi-stable structure that would be easy to manufacture,” explains Giada Risso , a doctoral student in the Composite Materials and Adaptive Structures Group. “A flat surface and a clamp to pre-stretch the film – that’s essentially all that’s needed.”