CAMBRIDGE, MA—Engineers at BMW are working with the Self-Assembly Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop printed inflatable materials that self-transform, adapt and morph from one state to another. Possible applications for the technology include automobile interiors.
The engineers printed air- and water-tight inflatable geometries that are similar to customized balloons. The silicone-printed objects can change shape depending on the amount of air pressure in the system. Pneumatic controls enable the printed structure to transform into a variety of shapes, functions or stiffness characteristics.