Sticker controller and sticker programming for smart sheets (self-folding sheets)

Abstract

This thesis describes a self-folding sheet that is capable of origami-style autonomous folding. We describe the hardware device we designed and fabricated. This device, called a self-folding sheet, is a sheet with a box-pleat pattern and an integrated electronic substrate and actuators. The sheet is programmed and controlled using a new idea called sticker programming. We describe the architecture of a machine that can be programmed by sticker programming and its instantiation. We also describe planning algorithm and automatic programming algorithm for controlling a given sheet to self-fold into a desired shape. Finally we present experiments with a 4 x 4 hardware device and an 8 x 8 hardware device.