MORE | Fall 2022

Adapting Mass Manufacturing Methods to Develop Living Hinges for Foldable Robotics

Polyethylene binders and folders have a living hinge built into them which can be applied to developing foldable robots. By exploiting this knowledge, the cost of materials and the complexity of manufacturing should go down thereby reducing the barrier of entry into the field of foldable robotics, ideally without compromising the operability and robustness. The challenge lies in developing a hinge that is capable of sustaining loading and fatigue cycles comparable to its mass-manufactured counterpart. The findings of this research would be able to aid IdeaLAB and Professor Daniel Aukes expand outside of laminate materials in foldable robotics.