Layer by Layer, Patterned Valves Enable Programmable Soft Surfaces

Abstract

Programmable surfaces, which can be instructed to alter their shape or texture, may one day serve as a platform for tangible interfaces and adaptive environments. But so far, these structures have been constrained in scale by a challenging fabrication process, as the numerous constituent actuators must be built and assembled individually. We look towards emerging trends in mechanical engineering and consider an alternate framework --- layer-driven design, which enables the production of dynamic, discretely-actuated surfaces at multiple scales. By centering the construction around patterning and stacking, forgoing individual assembly in favor of bulk processes such as photo-etching and laser cutting, we avoid the need for multiple manufacturing steps that are repeated for each of the many actuators that compose the surface. As an instance of this layer-driven model, we build an array of electrostatic valves, and use this composite material (which we refer to as Stoma-Board) to drive four types of pneumatic transducers. We also show how this technique may be readily industrialized, through integration with the highly mature and automated manufacturing processes of modern electronics.