Modularizing transformations : a goal-oriented design tool of a modular four-bar linkage mechanism
Author(s)
Dai, Sen,S.M.Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Download1135844802-MIT.pdf (25.36Mb)
Alternative title
Goal-oriented design tool of a modular four-bar linkage mechanism
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture.
Advisor
Terry Knight and Hiroshi Ishii.
Terms of use
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Recent advances in materials science and manufacturing technology have not only provided promising opportunities for industrial and product design but have also catalyzed the emerging areas of transformable material design. This field of transformable material design is a multidisciplinary subject that provokes and inspires researchers to innovate. In the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), in particular, research has been looking beyond static, rigid physical interfaces to explore the rich transformability of input/output devices using transformable materials. However, most transformable materials require a unique mechanism or structure, making them suitable for specific tasks, but difficult to implement broadly. Moreover, due to the techniques used, most are not reconfigurable. So, is there a reconfigurable transformable material mechanism that can include multiple functions in its structure and can switch easily between functions autonomously? If yes, the design space for it would be incredibly large and the challenge is - how to design with this reconfigurable transformable material mechanism? As a response to this question, this thesis proposes a modularized mechanism for designing transformable materials, as well as a design tool to help the designer make reconfigurable transformable material structures. With the design tool, designers can easily explore the huge design space made possible by the mechanism by simply inputting their design goal represented as curves. The tool will automatically generate the desired transformable structures.
Description
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture, 2019 Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-45).
Date issued
2019Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of ArchitecturePublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Architecture.