In this paper, Yi and Anan showcase innovative microscopic machines using origami principles and multiple transducers, which are components that transform energy from one type to another (i.e. electrical to kinetic). While most machines only carry one type of transducer, their design incorporates a mixture, combining the unique benefits of each. The main contributions of this work are:
- The creation of a new fabrication technique that allows multiple transducers to be combined at a microscopic level.
- Creating micro-origami that achieves larger vibration with less energy by doing so at its natural frequency. Some of these vibrations mimic an insect flapping its wings
- Creating micro-origami that separate the use of each transducer type, allowing one to take measurements while the other creates motion without interfering with each other.
Exciting future applications of this work include creating micro-origami that can interact with microscopic biological material and the creation of micro-robots.