Origami-inspired reprogrammable microactuator system

Gottwald V, Seigner L, Ohtsuka M, Jia R, Shayanfard P, Wendler F, Bumke L, Quandt E, Kohl M (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Microsystems & Nanoengineering SpringerNature

Book Volume: 11

Article Number: 182

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-01026-x

Abstract

A reprogrammable microactuator system is presented, consisting of antagonistic shape memory alloy (SMA) microactuators for bidirectional folding of miniature-scale tiles following the concept of origami. Additional integrated heatable soft-magnetic pads with low ferromagnetic transition temperature allow for control of magnetic latching forces. The strongly coupled thermo-mechanical and thermo-magnetic properties of the microactuator and magnetic subsystems are taken into account in a model-based design to enable their selective control by Joule heating. A procedure for local shape setting of the SMA microactuators is presented to adjust their memory shape at either maximum or minimum bending angle and, thus, to functionalize their performance as protagonists or antagonists. A microfabrication process is developed that takes the specific requirements for processing the various materials and structures into account. A demonstrator system consisting of four triangular tiles with an edge length of 500 µm and an angular range of about ±100° is introduced that is programmed to adopt the shape of a pyramid and later on reprogrammed to self-unlatch, self-unfold, and subsequently to adopt the shape of a table. (Figure presented.)

Authors with CRIS profile

Pejman Shayanfard Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffsimulation Frank Wendler Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffsimulation

Involved external institutions

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE) Tohoku University JP Japan (JP) Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Gottwald, V., Seigner, L., Ohtsuka, M., Jia, R., Shayanfard, P., Wendler, F.,... Kohl, M. (2025). Origami-inspired reprogrammable microactuator system. Microsystems & Nanoengineering, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-025-01026-x

MLA:

Gottwald, Vincent, et al. "Origami-inspired reprogrammable microactuator system." Microsystems & Nanoengineering 11.1 (2025).

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