Bio-Inspired Motion Mechanisms: Computational Design and Material Programming of Self-Adjusting 4D-Printed Wearable Systems

This paper presents a material programming approach for designing 4D-printed self-shaping material systems based on biological role models. Plants have inspired numerous adaptive systems that move without using any operating energy; however, these systems are typically designed and fabricated in the form of simplified bilayers. This work introduces computational design methods for 4D-printing bio-inspired behaviors with compounded mechanisms. To emulate the anisotropic arrangement of motile plant structures, material systems are tailored at the mesoscale using extrusion-based 3D-printing. The methodology is demonstrated by transferring the principle of force generation by a twining plant (Dioscorea bulbifera) to the application of a self-tightening splint. Through the tensioning of its stem helix, D. bulbifera exhibits a squeezing force on its support to provide stability against gravity. The functional strategies of D. bulbifera are abstracted and translated to customized 4D-printed material systems. The squeezing forces of these bio-inspired motion mechanisms are then evaluated. Finally, the function of self-tightening is prototyped in a wrist-forearm splint-a common orthotic device for alignment. The presented approach enables the transfer of novel and expanded biomimetic design strategies to 4D-printed motion mechanisms, further opening the design space to new types of adaptive creations for wearable assistive technologies and beyond.

Automated summary

This study introduces a material programming approach based on biological role models for designing 4D-printed self-shaping material systems. Computational design methods and extrusion-based 3D printing are used to customize bio-inspired behaviors, transferring the principle of force generation by climbing plants to self-tightening splints. This approach allows for novel biomimetic design strategies to be applied to 4D-printed motion mechanisms, expanding the design possibilities for wearable assistive technologies.