In 1985, Bill Freeman’s three-sided zipper was rejected and left in his garage; 40 years later, MIT revived it as a shape-shifting fastener

In 1985, Bill Freeman's three-sided zipper was rejected and left in his garage; 40 years later, MIT revived it as a shape-shifting fastener

In 1985, electrical engineer Bill Freeman imagined a zipper that could do more than join two pieces of material. His three-sided design used a slider to bring three strips together, potentially changing the shape and stiffness of objects. The idea was rejected by an innovation fund, but Freeman patented the mechanism and kept his prototype … Read more

A ketchup bottle cap inspired Princeton engineers to build a shape-shifting robot that moves without a motor

A ketchup bottle cap inspired Princeton engineers to build a shape-shifting robot that moves without a motor

Kevin Liu showcases a geometry-powered robot that moves without motors or controls, PC: Aaron Nathans At Princeton Engineering, a team led by Glaucio Paulino has answered a question few people ever think to ask: what makes a ketchup bottle cap snap open and stay open rather than flopping shut? The hinge on a typical flip-top … Read more