Systems and methods for forming multiple 3d structures from a circularly-packed network of structural elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025059795-A1
Application number	US-202318449293-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 14, 2023
Priority date	Aug 14, 2023
Publication date	Feb 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to multiple three-dimensional (3D) structures formation from a network of circularly-packed structural elements. In one embodiment, a system includes a circularly-packed network of structural elements that form multiple 3D structures. Diameters of the structural elements define a shape of the 3D structures. The circularly-packed network is adaptable to form 1) a first 3D structure and 2) a second 3D structure with a different shape than the first 3D structure. The system also includes a set of joints that connect adjacent structural elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a circularly-packed network of structural elements that form multiple three-dimensional (3D) structures, diameters of the structural elements define a shape of the 3D structures and the circularly-packed network is adaptable to form:
a first 3D structure; and
a second 3D structure with a different shape than the first 3D structure; and
a set of joints that connect adjacent structural elements.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first 3D structure and the second 3D structure are soft shell structures.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first 3D structure and the second 3D structure are rigid shell structures.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the structural elements are rings; and the set of joints are loosely-connected joints that allow adjacent rings multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to one another.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a diameter of a ring is adjustable to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein:
in an unstressed state, the circularly-packed network of rings forms a two-dimensional (2D) planar structure; and in a stressed state, the circularly-packed network of rings forms at least one of the first 3D structure and the second 3D structure.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising an inflatable structure underlying the circularly-packed network, the inflatable structure inflates and transitions the circularly-packed network from the unstressed state to the stressed state.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the rings rest on and move relative to the inflatable structure.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the structural elements are rigid disks; and the set of joints are rigid joints that rigidly connect adjacent disks to one another.

10 . A system, comprising:
a circularly-packed network of structural elements that form multiple three-dimensional (3D) structures, diameters of the structural elements define a shape of the 3D structures:
in a first configuration, the circularly-packed network of structural elements forms a first 3D structure; and
in a second configuration, the circularly-packed network of structural elements forms a second 3D structure having a different shape than the first 3D structure; and
a set of joints that connect adjacent structural elements.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein a diameter of at least a first structural element differs from a diameter of a second structural element.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the structural elements are rings; the set of joints are loosely-connected joints that allow adjacent rings multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to one another; and a diameter of a ring is adjustable to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an inflatable structure to morph the circularly-packed network from an unstressed state wherein the circularly-packed network forms a two-dimensional (2D) planar structure to a stressed state wherein the circularly-packed network forms at least one of the first 3D structure and the second 3D structure.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the structural elements are disks; the set of joints are rigid joints that rigidly connect adjacent disks to one another; and in a first arrangement, the circularly-packed network comprises a first set of disks; and in a second arrangement, the circularly-packed network comprises a second set of disks, wherein a diameter of at least a first disk of the first set differs from a diameter of at least a second disk in the second set.

15 . A method, comprising:
identifying a first three-dimensional (3D) structure for a circularly-packed network of structural elements, diameters of the structural elements define a shape of the first 3D structure; identifying a second 3D structure for the circularly-packed network of structural elements, the second 3D structure having a different shape than the first 3D structure; and changing a configuration of the circularly-packed network to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising identifying diameter changes for the structural elements to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the structural elements are loosely-connected rings; and changing the configuration of the circularly-packed network to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure comprises:
setting the circularly-packed network to an unstressed state by deflating an inflatable structure underlying the circularly-packed network;
adjusting a diameter of at least one ring; and
setting the circularly-packed network to a stressed state by inflating the inflatable structure.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein changing the configuration of the circularly-packed network to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure occurs without disassembling the circularly-packed network.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the structural elements are rigidly-connected disks; and changing a configuration of the circularly-packed network to morph the first 3D structure into the second 3D structure comprises exchanging at least a first rigidly-connected disk for a second rigidly-connected disk having a different diameter.

20 . The method of claim 15 :
further comprising:
identifying, using conformal mapping, diameters for the structural elements to form the first 3D structure; and
identifying, using conformal mapping, diameters for the structural elements to form the second 3D structure; and
wherein changing the configuration of the structural elements is based on identified diameters.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Univ New York State Res Found

Inventors

• Zhou Yuqing
• Tanaka Masato
• Song Yuyang
• Gu Xianfeng David
• Chen Shikui
• Zhao Zhou
• Gao Lingfeng

Classifications

• E04H2015/202

  with inflatable panels, without inflatable tubular framework · CPC title

• E04H15/20 Primary

  inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure · CPC title