MIT researchers have created a design and fabrication method that turns a flat arrangement of interconnected tiles into a fully formed three-dimensional object with just one pull of a string. The technique translates a user’s desired 3D shape into a flat set of quadrilateral tiles linked by rotating hinges, then calculates the optimal path and lift points for a string that smoothly actuates the structure with minimal friction and no additional tools, tells MIT News.
This approach dramatically simplifies deployable construction. Traditional deployable structures often require multiple steps, specialized equipment, or multiple actuations to assemble. The new process embeds actuation directly into the geometry, letting the structure spring to life from its flat form with a single motion and quickly return to flat when the string is released.
The design algorithm is inspired by kirigami, a paper-cutting practice that embeds complex behavior into flat materials. By encoding the 3D geometry as a grid of auxetic tiles that expand or compress predictably, the system finds both the minimal set of lift points and the best string route connecting them, reducing friction and enabling smooth transformation.
Importantly, the method is fabrication-agnostic. Once a design is optimized, it can be built with 3D printing, CNC milling, molding, or other manufacturing techniques, making it flexible for many applications. Researchers have already demonstrated a range of prototypes, from small objects such as personalized medical splints to a human-scale foldable chair, showing that the concept scales across sizes and use cases.
Potential applications span disaster response, where rapid-deploy shelters and medical equipment could be transported flat and actuated on site, to robotics that enter confined spaces and expand, and even architectural installations or space habitats actuated by humans or robots on other planets.
Presented at the SIGGRAPH conference, this work offers a new pathway to practical, quickly deployable structures with simple actuation, minimal tooling, and broad fabrication options, opening doors to faster assembly and transport efficiencies across fields.