Origami, 1 the art of paper folding is much more
than just paper cranes. With its exquisite folds and intricate
geometric shapes, origami has long captivated the minds of
those seeking to apply 2 devious solutions to engineering
challenges. In recent decades, concepts and techniques
derived from origami 3 drive a variety of innovations in
science and technology.
Consider, for example, the waterbomb, a classic
origami design that, after a series of folds, allows the
paper to be inflated through a hole in one corner to
form a hollow, box-like shape. A team of scientists from
Oxford University turned to this ancient design to help
them develop an innovative new tool for the treatment
of heart disease: a highly expandable heart stent. A heart
stent is a device used to open up clogged arteries. Because
heart stents need to be inserted into arteries, they must be
extremely narrow. 4 By using the waterbomb origami
design, the team was able to design a 5 stent—capable
of being inserted at a width of 12 mm and expanding to a
width of 23 mm.
[1] While the waterbomb dates back to the earliest
days of paper-folding, 6 new origami folds are still being
created in order to serve specific technical purposes. [2] As
recently as 1995, for instance, the Japanese astrophysicist
Koryo Miura developed what became known as the
Miura fold. [3] 7 While puzzling over the large and
unwieldy design of solar panels carried by spacecraft into
orbit, Miura had noted that astronauts were required to
carefully unfold the solar panels 8 with hand when the
craft reached orbit. [4] The astronauts then had to fold the
panels again before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. [5]
Miura wanted to design a solar panel that could be folded
and unfolded robotically, in order to automate this complex
procedure. [6] This design allowed his robotic solar panels
to be opened by only a few motors. 9
What is the next frontier of origami-inspired
engineering? Not surprisingly, origami is going digital.
In the emerging field of computational origami, complex
computer models are being used to create more
10 intricate and efficient origami designs designed by
computer models. While the practical applications of these
new designs are still being studied, one thing is certain:
origami will 11 be the only traditional art form that
continues to inspire technological innovation.
than just paper cranes. With its exquisite folds and intricate
geometric shapes, origami has long captivated the minds of
those seeking to apply 2 devious solutions to engineering
challenges. In recent decades, concepts and techniques
derived from origami 3 drive a variety of innovations in
science and technology.
Consider, for example, the waterbomb, a classic
origami design that, after a series of folds, allows the
paper to be inflated through a hole in one corner to
form a hollow, box-like shape. A team of scientists from
Oxford University turned to this ancient design to help
them develop an innovative new tool for the treatment
of heart disease: a highly expandable heart stent. A heart
stent is a device used to open up clogged arteries. Because
heart stents need to be inserted into arteries, they must be
extremely narrow. 4 By using the waterbomb origami
design, the team was able to design a 5 stent—capable
of being inserted at a width of 12 mm and expanding to a
width of 23 mm.
[1] While the waterbomb dates back to the earliest
days of paper-folding, 6 new origami folds are still being
created in order to serve specific technical purposes. [2] As
recently as 1995, for instance, the Japanese astrophysicist
Koryo Miura developed what became known as the
Miura fold. [3] 7 While puzzling over the large and
unwieldy design of solar panels carried by spacecraft into
orbit, Miura had noted that astronauts were required to
carefully unfold the solar panels 8 with hand when the
craft reached orbit. [4] The astronauts then had to fold the
panels again before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. [5]
Miura wanted to design a solar panel that could be folded
and unfolded robotically, in order to automate this complex
procedure. [6] This design allowed his robotic solar panels
to be opened by only a few motors. 9
What is the next frontier of origami-inspired
engineering? Not surprisingly, origami is going digital.
In the emerging field of computational origami, complex
computer models are being used to create more
10 intricate and efficient origami designs designed by
computer models. While the practical applications of these
new designs are still being studied, one thing is certain:
origami will 11 be the only traditional art form that
continues to inspire technological innovation.