Multistable inflatable origami structures at the metre scale

Abstract

From stadium covers to solar sails, we rely on deployability for the design of large-scale structures that can quickly compress to a fraction of their size. Historically, two main strategies have been pursued to design deployable systems. The first and most common approach involves mechanisms comprising interconnected bar elements, which can synchronously expand and retract, occasionally locking in place through bistable elements. The second strategy instead, makes use of inflatable membranes that morph into target shapes by means of a single pressure input. Neither strategy however, can be readily used to provide an enclosed domain able to lock in place after deployment: the integration of protective covering in linkage-based constructions is challenging and pneumatic systems require a constant applied pressure to keep their expanded shape. Here, we draw inspiration from origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, to design rigid-walled deployable structures that are multistable and inflatable. Guided by geometric analyses and experiments, we create a library of bistable origami shapes that can be deployed through a single fluidic pressure input. We then combine these units to build functional structures at the meter-scale, such as arches and emergency shelters, providing a direct pathway for a new generation of large-scale inflatable systems that lock in place after deployment and offer a robust enclosure through their stiff faces.