New Scientist reports on the graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University we've linked to previously who built a robot that can make simple origami constructions. The work is aimed at developing robotic systems that can manipulate various materials encountered in daily life. From researcher Devin Balkcom's site:
"Why origami? Origami is a fresh challenge for the field of robotic manipulation. Paper is flexible; robots are best at manipulating rigid things. Even if we model origami as an articulated rigid body (by building our origami out of really stiff cardboard with hinges along creases), it still has a complicated mechanical structure." Link
