MultiPneu: Inflatable Deformation of Multilayered Film Materials

Abstract

The exploration of transformable materials and pneumatic actuation is attracting increasing interest in the field of human–computer interaction. In this study, we introduce a do-it-yourself method of creating inflatable deformation of multilayered film materials. We used a commercial FDM 3D printer and a hand-pressure plastic packaging machine to heat-seal and pattern hinges to achieve self-folding structures in multiple chambers. This technique is very flexible and allows for a variety of pneumatic deformations in 3D. We also propose a design space of creating more than one chambers as well as multi-layered deformations that we hope this approach can benefit for shape-changing interfaces.