Shape Changing Polyhedra

I recently presented a paper at the Bridges Conference in Finland  - August 2016. The subject was 'Shape Changing Polyhedra.' At the conference I met Mr. Asao Tokolo and he introduced me to Mr. Tachi's work. The connection is that of "Shape Changing Polyhedra" with "Origami."

The basic difference of the two approaches, shape-changing polyhedra (SCP) and origami is that SCPs mostly start in 3D as a flexibly connected set of (mostly) equilateral polygons. In a sense origami's 3D forms can be described in the same way but with an indefinite variety of polygonal shapes. The difference is that of the spatial logic applied to SCPs such that families of SCPs can have shape-change characteristics determined by the set of spatial logics applied. There's no question that SCPs overlap origami in certain areas but the SCP logic sets them apart. SCPs are often modular and have multiple positions of equilibrium - stable positions of shape-change. 

The fascinating thing about SCPs is that they lie within largely undiscovered territory - it's almost like discovering the world of Platonic and Archimedean Solids if they had not already been found. Up to this point, applying the logic I have discovered about sixteen SCP polygonal modular cores of which all can be extended and where each has its own set of characteristics in terms of how they shape-change and combine in 3D space. The flexibly connected polygonal panels can be of any scale, nano, micro, or macro - so structural application possibilities seem endless as surfaces, as 3D buildings that can expand or contract or even walk.

I'd like to establish contact with Mr. Tachi and anyone interested in the area of SCPs. I think the key is not the overlaps of SCPs and Origami but the logic sets of SCPs. There are a few movie clips of a couple on my website and a brief intro in my paper: http://archive.bridgesmathart.org/2016/bridges2016-225.pdf. My email is rogerburro@aol.com. Any interest?