Morphing origami structures
A morphing structure includes a tessellation origami structure with a plurality of polygons having a plurality of outer polygon facets, and a plurality of inflatable cells attached to the plurality of outer polygon facets. The plurality of inflatable cells are selectively inflatable such that the morphing structure is an in-situ shape changing morphing structure. In some variations, a compressed gas supply is in communication with the plurality of inflatable cells and a controller in communication with the compressed gas supply.
1 . A morphing structure comprising:
a tessellation origami structure comprising a plurality of polygons with a plurality of outer polygonal facets; and
a plurality of inflatable cells attached to the plurality of polygons, the plurality of inflatable cells being selectively inflatable such that the morphing structure is an in-situ shape changing morphing structure.
2 . The morphing structure according to claim 1 , wherein a first pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells provides a deployed shape to the tessellation origami structure and a second pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells provides a non-deployed shape to the tessellation origami structure.
3 . The morphing structure according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of polygons comprises a central polygon and a plurality of outer polygons disposed around the central polygon.
4 . The morphing structure according to claim 3 , wherein the first pressure configuration comprises a pressure in an inflatable cell attached to the central polygon being greater than any pressure in inflatable cells attached to the outer polygons.
5 . The morphing structure according to claim 4 , wherein the first pressure configuration comprises a pressure in an inflatable cell attached to the central polygon being greater than a sum of the pressures in the inflatable cells attached to the outer polygons.
6 . The morphing structure according to claim 5 , wherein the first pressure configuration is a folding pressure configuration.
7 . The morphing structure according to claim 3 , wherein the second pressure configuration comprises a pressure in an inflatable cell attached to the central polygon being less than any pressure in the inflatable cells attached to the plurality of outer polygons.
8 . The morphing structure according to claim 7 , wherein the second pressure configuration comprises a pressure in an inflatable cell attached to the central polygon being less than a sum of the pressures in the inflatable cells attached to the plurality of outer polygons.
9 . The morphing structure according to claim 8 , wherein the second pressure configuration is a deployed pressure configuration.
10 . The morphing structure according to claim 1 further comprising a compressed gas supply in communication with the plurality of inflatable cells and a controller in communication with the compressed gas supply.
11 . The morphing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer polygon facets are hexagon polygon facets.
12 . The morphing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of polygons comprises more than one type of polygon.
13 . The morphing structure according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of polygons comprises a hexagon and a triangle.
14 . The morphing structure according to claim 12 , wherein the more than one type of polygon comprises a hexagon and at least one of a right triangle or an oblique triangle.
15 . The morphing structure according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of polygons comprises a plurality of hexagons, a plurality of right triangles, and a plurality of oblique triangles.
16 . A morphing structure comprising:
a tessellation origami structure comprising a plurality of polygons with a plurality of outer polygon facets;
a plurality of inflatable cells attached to the plurality of outer polygon facets, the plurality of inflatable cells being selectively inflatable such that the morphing structure is an in-situ shape changing morphing structure;
a compressed gas supply in communication with the plurality of inflatable cells; and
a controller in communication with the compressed gas supply, wherein the controller is configured to command a first pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells and a second pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells.
17 . The morphing structure according to claim 16 , wherein the second pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells is different than the first pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells.
18 . The morphing structure according to claim 17 , wherein the first pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells is a deployed shape for the tessellation origami structure and the second pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells is a non-deployed shape for the tessellation origami structure.
19 . A morphing structure comprising:
a tessellation origami structure comprising a plurality of polygons with a plurality of outer polygon facets, the plurality of polygons comprising more than one type of polygon;
a plurality of inflatable cells attached to the plurality of outer polygon facets, the plurality of inflatable cells being selectively inflatable such that the morphing structure is an in-situ shape changing morphing structure;
a compressed gas supply in communication with the plurality of inflatable cells; and
a controller in communication with the compressed gas supply, the controller configured to command a first pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells and a second pressure configuration for the plurality of inflatable cells different than the first pressure configuration.
20 . The morphing structure according to claim 19 , wherein the plurality of polygons comprises a plurality of hexagons, a plurality of right triangles, and a plurality of oblique triangles.