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Prehistoric craft could help make strong metamaterials for robots

Prehistoric craft could help make strong metamaterials for robots
Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 8/29/2025

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Engineers at the University of Michigan have discovered that ancient basket-weaving techniques, dating back approximately 9,500 years, can inspire the creation of resilient and stiff metamaterials for modern applications such as robotics, automotive parts, and architecture. By weaving Mylar polyester ribbons into 3D structures, the researchers demonstrated that woven materials can endure repeated compression and torsion, returning to their original shape without permanent damage. In contrast, continuous (unwoven) materials buckled and deformed under similar stress. This resilience arises because woven designs redistribute stress over a wider area, preventing localized buckling, while maintaining about 70% of the stiffness of continuous materials. The team tested various woven corner arrangements and found that these fundamental modules enable the design of complex, stiff, and resilient spatial geometries. A prototype four-legged robot made from these woven materials could support 25 times its weight and recover its shape after being overloaded, highlighting the practical potential of this approach. Future research aims to develop “smart”

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metamaterialsroboticswoven-materialsmaterial-sciencemechanical-engineeringresilience3D-structures