6.849: Geometric Folding Algorithms: Linkages, Origami, Polyhedra (Spring 2017)

Prof. Erik Demaine; Martin Demaine; Dr. Jason Ku; TAs Adam Hesterberg & Jayson Lynch


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[+] Rigidity theory: Infinitesimal rigidity, rigidity matrix.
Tensegrity theory: tensegrities, equilibrium stress, duality, polyhedral lifting, Maxwell-Cremona Theorem.
Locked linkages: Carpenter's Rule Theorem.
This lecture continues our tour through rigidity theory, introducing two more big ideas: infinitesimal rigidity and tensegrities. Infinitesimal rigidity is a nice way to capture the generic case using linear algebra, and it nicely generalizes (and is efficiently computable) in any dimension. Tensegrities (a term coined by Buckminster Fuller) allow the addition of struts (which prevent compression) and cables (which prevent expansion) in addition to bars (which prevent both—which is what we've mostly been thinking about). A nice special case of tensegrities are “spider webs”, which turn out to relate to the algorithmic design of origami tessellations.

Although not obviously related, the rigidity tools we build up allow us to prove the existence of actual folding motions between any two configurations of “chain linkages” (whose graphs are paths or cycles) whose edges aren't allowed to cross. This Carpenter's Rule Theorem (which was essentially my PhD thesis) kicks off our coverage of understanding when linkages can “lock”.

This class we have Prof. Samuel Felton from Northeastern University guest lecturing about folding robots. Sam is an expert in folding robots; in particular, he was the lead author on the self-folding robot from Science (which was his PhD work at Harvard). It should be fun!

Then we'll work on problems related to locked linkages.

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Handwritten notes, page 1/8[previous page][next page][PDF]

Handwritten notes, page 1/8[previous page][next page][PDF]

Slides, page 1/9[previous page][next page][PDF]

Sadly Eric Joisel died this past weekend. Photos used with his permission.

Slides, page 1/9[previous page][next page][PDF]

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