Skylar Tibbits, director of Self-Assembly Lab and research scientist at MIT, says making the process first involves using novel carbon fiber composites developed by Carbitex, which use a variety of matrix materials that impart a range of properties. Some of their carbon composites are floppy; others are springy. Then a 3-D printer applies materials that are known to shrink or grow under certain conditions. As they change, they force the carbon composite on which they’re deposited to bend or twist in various ways, depending on the pattern produced by the printer.
So far, Tibbits has demonstrated materials that respond to light, water and heat, but hopes to make more that respond to air pressure and other stimuli. Down the line, the materials could even be used for packages that self-assemble in space into a complete satellite.
