Liquid Printed Pneumatics

Image taken from Self Assembly Lab website

This is a project developed by the Self-Assembly Lab, a group of MIT researchers interested in exploring the properties and possibilities of programmable and smart material, as well as soft robotics, with the goal of re-inventing the way artifacts are manufactured today.

Although the material presented in this example requires a specialized process that is not yet available for market access; It can give us a glimpse of what the field of programmable materials with different properties, can provide us for future applications.

In this project in specific, the Self-Assembly Lab explores the properties of elastic materials (printed in 3D as silicone or rubber) with pneumatic (inflatable) abilities as a catalyst for the creation of new forms, postures and experiences: “4D structures that adapted according to function, performance and aesthetics.”

Self-Assembly Lab partnered with BMW to look for innovative solutions to apply in car interiors that can mutate and transform according to the specific needs of the user. The results in research in this field, can open new possibilities in other areas such as: architecture, aerospace, adaptive products, appareal, etc…

Self-Assembly Lab Team: Bjorn Sparrman, Shokofeh Darbari, Rami Rustom, Maggie Hughes, Schendy Kernizan, Jared Laucks, Skylar Tibbits

BMW Team: Sophie Richter, Akos Stegmar

​