Imagine spending six hours straight building a prototype. This dedication is a glimpse into the world of DIY and maker movements, which mirrors the current state of construction and manufacturing. These industries often rely on labor-intensive assembly methods, prompting a need for innovation. This is where the concept of programming physical materials to self-assemble comes into play.
Today, a fascinating revolution is occurring at the micro and nanoscale. Scientists are learning how to program physical and biological materials to change shape, alter properties, and even perform computations beyond traditional silicon-based systems. For instance, CAD Nano software allows us to design three-dimensional structures like nanorobots or drug delivery systems using DNA, enabling these structures to self-assemble.
However, these nanoscale technologies don’t address the challenges we face at the human scale, particularly in construction and manufacturing. These sectors suffer from inefficiencies, high energy consumption, and labor-intensive processes. Take water pipes, for example. They have fixed capacities and flow rates, and any change in conditions requires a complete overhaul.
To tackle these issues, we can merge nanoscale programmable materials with the built environment. This isn’t about creating automated machines to replace humans but about developing materials that can self-assemble. This process, known as self-assembly, involves disordered parts coming together to form an ordered structure through local interactions.
To achieve self-assembly at a human scale, we need a few key components: materials and geometry, coupled with an energy source. Passive energy sources such as heat, shaking, pneumatics, gravity, and magnetics can be utilized. Additionally, smart interactions are necessary to correct errors and enable transitions between different shapes.
We’ve developed several projects ranging from one-dimensional to four-dimensional systems. In one-dimensional systems, we have self-folding proteins. By embedding elastic materials, we can create tangible models of protein structures, allowing us to study their folding mechanisms physically.
In two-dimensional systems, flat sheets can self-fold into three-dimensional structures. In collaboration with Autodesk and Arthur Olen at TED Global, we explored autonomous parts that self-assemble. We created 500 glass pieces with various molecular structures and colors, providing intuitive models for understanding molecular self-assembly at a human scale.
Through random energy, we demonstrated the ability to build non-random shapes. At TED Long Beach, we constructed furniture-scale objects using a rotating chamber, offering an intuitive understanding of self-assembly’s potential for large-scale construction and manufacturing.
Today, we’re unveiling a new project called 4D printing, developed in collaboration with Stratasys. The concept involves using multimaterial 3D printing to create parts that can transform from one shape to another autonomously, akin to robotics without wires or motors. We also collaborated with Autodesk on Project Cyborg, a software that simulates self-assembly behavior and optimizes part folding.
Here’s a demonstration: a single strand dipped in water self-folds into the letter “M.” Another strand in a larger tank self-folds into a cube. This marks the first time programmed transformation has been embedded directly into materials, paving the way for more adaptive infrastructure in the future.
How can we apply this to the built environment? At MIT, I’ve established the Self-Assembly Lab, dedicated to developing programmable materials for construction. We see immediate applications in extreme environments where traditional construction methods are impractical. Our goal is to design fully reconfigurable and self-assembling structures for scenarios like space exploration.
In infrastructure, we’re collaborating with a Boston-based company, Geoc Syntech, to create a new paradigm for piping. Imagine water pipes that can expand or contract to change capacity or flow rate, or even undulate to move water without expensive pumps or valves. This would result in a fully programmable and adaptive piping system.
In conclusion, the complexities of assembly in our world are immense, with intricate structures built from complex parts. I invite you, regardless of your industry, to join us in reimagining how things come together, from the nanoscale to the human scale, to create a more efficient and innovative world.
Create your own self-assembling models using simple materials like paper, rubber bands, and magnets. Experiment with different shapes and energy sources such as heat or shaking to observe how these models can transform. Document your findings and share them with your peers to discuss the potential applications of self-assembly in real-world scenarios.
Using CAD software, design a simple object that can transform from one shape to another when exposed to water or heat. Consider the materials and geometry needed for this transformation. Present your design to the class, explaining the principles of 4D printing and how your project could be applied in construction or manufacturing.
Attend or organize a workshop where you can collaborate with classmates to build larger self-assembling structures. Use materials like LEGO or modular kits to create furniture-scale objects. Reflect on the challenges and successes of the process, and discuss how these principles could revolutionize the construction industry.
Conduct research on the latest advancements in programmable materials and their applications in various industries. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how these materials can lead to more adaptive and efficient systems in construction, healthcare, or environmental management.
Use simulation software like Autodesk’s Project Cyborg to model self-assembly processes. Experiment with different parameters to optimize part folding and transformation. Analyze the results and propose potential improvements or new applications for these technologies in real-world scenarios.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music]
This is me building a prototype for six hours straight. This is a personal commitment to my own project. This is what the DIY and maker movements really look like, and it serves as an analogy for today’s construction and manufacturing worlds, which often rely on brute force assembly techniques. This is exactly why I started studying how to program physical materials to build themselves.
There is another revolution happening today at the micro and nanoscale. This involves the ability to program physical and biological materials to change shape, alter properties, and even compute outside of silicon-based matter. There’s software called CAD Nano that allows us to design three-dimensional shapes like nanorobots or drug delivery systems, using DNA to self-assemble those functional structures.
However, at the human scale, there are significant problems that nanoscale technologies do not address. In construction and manufacturing, we face major inefficiencies, energy consumption, and excessive labor techniques in infrastructure. For example, consider water pipes. We have fixed capacity pipes with set flow rates, and if anything changes—like environmental conditions or demand—we have to start from scratch and replace them.
I propose that we can combine the worlds of nanoscale programmable adaptive materials with the built environment. I’m not just talking about automated machines or smart machines that replace humans, but about programmable materials that can build themselves. This process is known as self-assembly, where disordered parts create an ordered structure through local interactions.
To achieve this at the human scale, we need a few simple ingredients: materials and geometry, tightly coupled with an energy source. We can use passive energy sources such as heat, shaking, pneumatics, gravity, and magnetics. Additionally, we need smartly designed interactions that allow for error correction and enable shapes to transition from one state to another.
Now, I will show you several projects we’ve developed, ranging from one-dimensional to four-dimensional systems. In one-dimensional systems, we have a project called self-folding proteins. Here, we take the three-dimensional structure of a protein, like the crayon protein, and break it down into components. By embedding elastic materials, we can create a tangible model of the protein’s structure and how it folds, allowing us to study it physically.
We are also translating this concept into two-dimensional systems, where flat sheets can self-fold into three-dimensional structures. In three dimensions, we collaborated with Autodesk and Arthur Olen at TED Global to explore autonomous parts that can come together on their own. We created 500 glass pieces with different molecular structures and colors, which were given away to attendees as intuitive models to understand molecular self-assembly at the human scale.
We demonstrated that through random energy, we can build non-random shapes. Last year at TED Long Beach, we built an installation that constructs furniture-scale objects. People could spin a large rotating chamber, adding energy to the system and gaining an intuitive understanding of self-assembly and its potential for large-scale construction or manufacturing.
Today, we are unveiling a new project called 4D printing, a collaboration with Stratesys. The idea behind 4D printing is to use multimaterial 3D printing to create parts that can transform from one shape to another on their own. This is akin to robotics without wires or motors. We also worked with Autodesk on software called Project Cyborg, which simulates self-assembly behavior and optimizes the folding of parts.
Here’s a demonstration: a single strand dipped in water that completely self-folds into the letter “M.” Another part, a single strand in a larger tank, self-folds into a cube. We believe this is the first time that programmed transformation has been embedded directly into materials, potentially leading to more adaptive infrastructure in the future.
I know you might be wondering how we can apply this to the built environment. I’ve started a lab at MIT called the Self-Assembly Lab, dedicated to developing programmable materials for construction. We see key sectors with near-term applications, such as extreme environments where traditional construction techniques are impractical. We aim to design fully reconfigurable and self-assembling structures for scenarios like space.
In infrastructure, we’re collaborating with a Boston-based company called Geoc Syntech to develop a new paradigm for piping. Imagine if water pipes could expand or contract to change capacity or flow rate, or even undulate to move water without expensive pumps or valves. This would create a completely programmable and adaptive piping system.
I want to remind you of the complexities of assembly in our world, where intricate things are built from complex parts. I invite you, from whatever industry you represent, to join us in reimagining how things come together, from the nanoscale to the human scale, to create a more efficient and innovative world.
[Applause]
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language while maintaining the essence of the original content.
4D Printing – A process that creates 3D objects capable of changing shape or properties over time in response to environmental stimuli. – Researchers are exploring 4D printing to develop materials that can self-adjust in response to temperature changes.
Self-Assembly – A process by which molecules and structures autonomously organize into functional configurations without human intervention. – The self-assembly of nanoparticles is crucial in the development of advanced materials for electronic applications.
Materials – Substances or components with specific physical properties used in engineering and manufacturing to create products and structures. – Selecting the right materials is essential for ensuring the durability and efficiency of a solar panel.
Geometry – The branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, and solids, often used in engineering design. – Understanding geometry is fundamental for engineers when designing complex structures like bridges and buildings.
Energy – The capacity to do work, which can be transformed from one form to another, such as mechanical, electrical, or thermal energy. – Engineers are constantly seeking new ways to harness renewable energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Construction – The process of building or assembling infrastructure, facilities, or structures from various materials. – The construction of the new campus library incorporates sustainable practices and materials.
Manufacturing – The process of converting raw materials into finished products through the use of machinery and labor. – Advances in manufacturing technology have significantly reduced production costs and increased efficiency.
Nanoscale – A scale of measurement that deals with structures and processes at the nanometer level, often used in nanotechnology and materials science. – At the nanoscale, materials exhibit unique properties that can be exploited for innovative engineering solutions.
Programming – The process of designing and building an executable computer software to accomplish a specific task or solve a problem. – Programming skills are essential for engineers to develop simulations and control systems for automated processes.
Prototypes – Preliminary models or samples of a product used to test and refine design concepts before mass production. – Creating prototypes allows engineers to identify potential design flaws and make necessary adjustments early in the development process.
