Researchers have created a polymer “Chinese lantern” that can snap into over a dozen curved, three-dimensional shapes by compressing or twisting the original structure. This rapid shape-shifting behaviour can be controlled remotely using a magnetic field.
The basic lantern object is made by cutting a polymer sheet into a diamond-like parallelogram shape, then cutting a row of parallel lines across the centre of each sheet.
This creates a row of identical ribbons connected by a solid strip of material at the top and bottom of the sheet. By connecting the left and right ends it roughly spherical Chinese lantern. If one compresses the structure, it will slowly snap into a new shape.
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