Micro Robots? Enter the Micromuscle!

Now this video is a must see! The size of these little miniature machines is quite amazing. Check out their website here for more info.

(via Micromuscle's website)
MICROMUSCLE EAP technology

Using MICROMUSCLE EAP technology a wide variety of small moving components can be constructed. The possibility to create moving structures and exert force enables new functionality for medical devices and other life science products.

Electroactive polymers
Electroactive polymers are an emerging class of materials with many new revolutionary properties. One of the main advantages of electroactive polymers is the possibility to electrically control and fine-tune their behaviour and properties.
The electroactive polymers used by Micromuscle AB are characterized by their ability to swell and contract when a small voltage is applied. The mechanism behind this is based on electrochemistry. Swelling is caused by ions and water entering the polymer. When the voltage is removed or reversed, the polymer contracts and resumes its original shape.

Freeform surfaces from single curved panels

The following research is by H. Pottmann, A. Schiftner, P. Bo, H. Schmiedhofer, W. Wang, N. Baldassini, and J. Wallner. - (ACM Trans. Graphics, Vol. 27/3 (2008).Proc. SIGGRAPH 2008)

Abstract:

Motivated by applications in architecture and manufacturing, we discuss the problem of covering a freeform surface by single curved panels. This leads to the new concept of semi-discrete surface representation, which constitutes a link between smooth and discrete surfaces. The basic entity we are working with is the developable strip model. It is the semi-discrete equivalent of a quad mesh with planar faces, or a conjugate parametrization of a smooth surface. We present a B-spline based optimization framework for efficient computing with D-strip models. In particular we study conical and circular models, which semi-discretize the network of principal curvature lines, and which enjoy elegant geometric properties. Together with geodesic models and cylindrical models they offer a rich source of solutions for surface panelization problems.

Link to PDF research paper

Developable Surfaces - Curved Folding

Curved Folding by Martin Kilian, Simon Floery, Zhonggui Chen, Niloy J. Mitra, Alla Sheffer, Helmut PottmannACM SIGGRAPH 2008

Abstract:
Fascinating and elegant shapes may be folded from a single planar sheet of material without stretching, tearing or cutting, if one incorporates curved folds into the design. We present an optimizationbased computational framework for design and digital reconstruction of surfaces which can be produced by curved folding. Our work not only contributes to applications in architecture and industrial design, but it also provides a new way to study the complex and largely unexplored phenomena arising in curved folding.

Link to website

Link to PDF research paper (Siggraph 2008)

Link to 22MB slide presentation