Prototyping immense structures with integrated electronics, such as a chair that can monitor someone’s position, is usually a labor -intensive and prodigal process.
It may be necessary to make many versions of the chair structure using 3D printing and laser cutting, generating many waste, before collecting frames, transplant sensors and other shortbread electronics, and then wiring it to create a working device.
If the prototype fails, the manufacturer probably will not have a choice but to reject it and return to the drawing board.
MIT researchers came up with a better way to interact with immense and sturdy interactive structures. They developed a rapid development platform that uses reconfigurated building blocks with integrated electronics, which can be assembled into elaborate, functional devices. Instead of building electronics into a structure, electronics becomes a structure.
These airy three -dimensional components of the network, known as Woksele, have high strength and stiffness, as well as integrated detection, reaction and processing abilities that allow users without mechanical engineering or electrical engineering to quickly produce interactive electronic devices.
Woksele, which can be folded, dismantled and configured almost infinitely in various forms, cost about 50 cents.
The prototype platform, called VIK (Voxel Invention Kit), contains a user -friendly design tool that allows comprehensive prototyping, enabling the user to simulate the structure’s response to mechanical loads and items of the project if necessary.
“It’s about democratization of access to functional interactive devices. Paper about Vik.
The author and collaborator of Smith joins Forman; Asolwenta Amir Abdel-Rahman; and senior author Neil Gershenfeld, professor MIT and director of the CBA. Research will be presented at a conference on human factors in computing systems.
Functional construction blocks
VIK is based on years of work at the CBA to develop discrete, cellular component blocks called Voxels. One Woksel, a cubohedra aluminum grille (which has eight triangular faces and six square faces), is strong enough to keep 228 kilograms or with a weight of a vertical piano.
Instead of printing 3D, ground or laser, Woksels are mounted in LargeSkale, strong, durable structures, such as aircraft components or wind turbines, which can react to their environment.
The CBA team combined Voxels other work in their laboratory, focused on connected electrical components, giving Woksele with structural electronics. The assembly of these functional woksels generates structures that can send data and power, as well as mechanical forces, without the need for wires.
They used these electromechanical structural elements to develop VIK.
“An compelling challenge was to think about adapting many of our previous works, which consisted in hitting demanding engineering indicators into a user-friendly system that makes sense and is fun and uncomplicated to work,” says Smith.
For example, they increased the WokSeli project, thanks to which network structures are easier for human hands for assembly and disassembly. They also added aluminum troops to units to improve their strength and stability.
In addition, Vik Voxels has a reversible, snap-fit connection, thanks to which the user can easily assemble them without the need for additional tools, unlike some previous Voxel projects that used rivets as connectors.
“We designed Voxel faces to allow only correct connections.
The harness to the cables can add a significant cost of functional systems and can often be a source of failure.
Prototype platform available
To aid users who have minimal engineering knowledge, create a wide range of interactive devices, the team has developed a user -friendly interface to simulate 3D Voxel structures.
The interface contains a model of simulation of finite elements analysis (FEA), which allows users to draw a structure and simulate mechanical forces and loads that will be applied to it. Adds colors to the user’s animation to identify potential failure points.
“We created” Minecraft “for the Voxel application.
Users can also easily integrate ready modules, such as speakers, sensors or cylinders, for their device. Vik emphasizes flexibility, enabling creators to use the types of microcontrollers with which they feel comfortable.
“Another evolution of electronics will be in three-dimensional space, and the set of inventions Voxel (VIK) is a stepping stone that will allow users, designers and innovators a way of visualization and integration of electronics directly with structures,” says Victor Zaderej, manager of advanced electronic packaging technology in Molex, electronics, electrical and fibrical manufacturer. “Think about VIK as a combination of the Building Lego and electronic board set.
Using the design tool for feedback, the manufacturer can quickly change the configuration of the Wokseels to adapt the prototype or dismantling the structure to build something novel. If the user finally wants to reject the device, aluminum woksels are fully recyclable.
This reconfiguration and the possibility of recycling, along with high strength, high rigidity, lightweight and integrated electronics of the WokSele, can make Vik particularly well suited to applications, such as designing the theater stage, in which the stage managers want to safely support the actors thanks to the adapted set that can only exist for a few days.
By enabling quick prototyping of immense, elaborate structures, VIK may also have future applications in areas such as the production of space or in the development of clever buildings and clever infrastructure for sustainable cities.
But for scientists perhaps the most critical next step will be to introduce Vika to the world to see what users will come up with.
“These Woksels are now so easily accessible that someone can operate them in everyday life.