Inspired by origami art, a new type of reconfigurable and movable metamaterial has been developed.

A team from Princeton University in the USA has developed an innovative material that can expand, deform, and move, executing tasks like a remote-controlled robot based on electromagnetic commands. This material does not contain traditional motors or internal gears but can change shape and move. In an article published in the latest issue of "Nature," the team describes how they drew inspiration from origami art to create this structure that blurs the line between robots and materials. This innovative material is a metamaterial whose properties are determined by its physical structure rather than its chemical composition. By using simple Plastics and customized magnetic composites, the team built a modular assemblage that can be remotely controlled—called the "Metabot." Using magnetic fields, they can change the structure of the metamaterial, allowing it to expand, move, and deform, all without touching the material itself. (Science and Technology Daily)