Lamina Emergent Mechanisms

本奖项的研究目标是发展叶片涌现机制（LEMs）的建模和设计方法。这些特殊类型的柔顺机构由平面材料（薄片）制成，但能够产生从制造平面出现的运动。该研究将产生足够通用的方法，以适用于多种尺寸制度，并可以在不同的应用中利用。研究方法从开发简单的组件和基本机制，到创建能够执行复杂运动和复杂任务的设备。LEM组件和基本机制将被设计，制造和测试，以验证模型，识别弱点，并展示结果。这些成果包括基本部件和基本机构的目录、建模和分析工具、通过硬件进行的演示和验证、研究结果的文档、工程学生教育以及职前教师的工程研究经验。如果成功，这项研究的结果将为创造能够完成复杂机械任务的紧凑、经济高效的设备提供机会。示例应用包括具有指定运动特性但在插入期间较小的骨科植入物，以及具有精确平面外运动的微机电系统。通过这项研究可能实现的器件将提供平面制造、平坦初始状态和单片组合的优点。研究结果将被广泛传播，以允许创造具有更高精度、更低成本、更轻重量和更好可回收性的商业设备。研究生和本科工程专业的学生和职前教师将参与研究。学习6-12技术和工程预科教师的学生也将参与为他们提供第一手的研究经验，他们可以在整个教学生涯中借鉴。

Lamina Emergent MechanismsHowell and MaglebyAbstractThe research objective of this award is to develop methods for modeling and design of lamina emergent mechanisms (LEMs). These special types of compliant mechanisms are fabricated from planar materials (lamina) but are able to produce motion that emerges out of the fabrication plane. The research will result in methods which are general enough to apply across multiple size regimes and that can be exploited in diverse applications. The research approach progresses from the development of simple components and basic mechanisms, to the creation of devices capable of complex motions and sophisticated tasks. LEM components and basic mechanisms will be designed, fabricated, and tested to validate the models, identify weaknesses, and demonstrate results. Deliverables include a catalog of fundamental components and basic mechanisms, modeling and analysis tools, demonstration and validation via hardware, documentation of research results, engineering student education, and engineering research experiences for pre-service teachers.If successful, the results of this research will provide an opportunity to create compact, cost-effective devices that are capable of accomplishing sophisticated mechanical tasks. Example applications include orthopedic implants that have specified motion characteristics but are small during insertion, and microelectromechanical systems with precise out-of-plane motion. Devices made possible by the research will offer the advantages of planar fabrication, a flat initial state, and monolithic composition. The results will be widely disseminated to allow the creation of commercial devices that have increased precision, reduced cost, reduced weight, and improved recyclability. Graduate and undergraduate engineering students and pre-service teachers will be involved in the research. Students studying to be 6-12 technology and pre-engineering teachers will also be engaged to provide them firsthand research experience that they can draw on throughout their teaching careers.