This project is a collaboration with a team from USC, focusing on metamaterials that exhibit zero-energy deformation modes, often referred to as kinematic mechanisms.

The motion is driven by a well-known mechanism based on counter-rotating squares. When rotation is applied to a single panel, the motion immediately propagates and rotates the remaining panels in the structure. The geometry is fabricated from acrylic panels and joined by pins.

I will be able to share more details on the final geometric behavior and results once the project is officially published. For now, this low-angle close-up photo gives a view of one of the fabricated samples.

My primary role in this project involves the fabrication of more complex geometric samples and the design and execution of kinematics-based experiments to validate their large deformation behavior.