Controlling metric & bending in inflated fabrics.

Inspired from biological morphogenesis in the nature, the concept of shape morphing has received great attention in a range of fields from dynamic optics, tissue engineering, aeronautics to soft robotics. Generally, transforming a flat plate of synthetic materials into a 3D structure involves metric changes, i.e. distorting distances on the surface. However, the full control of a 3D shape also requires the control of extrinsic curvature, i.e. bending.

Here, we present a versatile method based on a network of channels between two layers of fabric. As pressure is applied inside the channels, the initially flat fabric may adopt 3D shapes ranging from simple cylinders to complex features such as helicoids and catenoids. In addition, stiff and deployable fast-response structures are also developed using the same technique, which may pave the way for new generation of inflatable structures and a full control of their shapes.