To explore the potential and develop a proposed design for the application of adaptive color changing skins undergoing research in the Programmable Structures Lab. Currently, the adaptive color changing skins that are being developed do not have a means to be actuated by environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.). This project’s goal is to manufacture a prototype of a skin with such potential.

The bistable metamaterials being manufactured by the lab requires electromechanical actuation or specific conditions in which they can be used (i.e. activation at 60°C). This project would require the proposal, development, analysis of a working prototype for the activation of the metamaterials underdevelopment in the lab at room or environmental conditions. This would entail the development of a working prototype that is easily manufacture by FDM or SLA methods or composites such that electromechanical actuation is kept to a minimum. The proposed ideas include using environmental factors such as varying temperature loads, vibration caused by sound and/or electrical conductivity to activate and actuate the metamaterial and transition it to its various stable states.

This research is not limited to actuation and can also explore the potential for more visible changes of texture, color and shape among other things.

The applications of shape changing metamaterials has various applications in a number of fields. Its applications include advancement in building and architectural technology as low energy environmental indicators of changes in and out of the building. Furthermore, it has military applications for camouflage, adapting military apparatus to its surroundings with low electromechanical actuation. Lastly, the development of such a material has value adding potential in product design applications through easy manufacturability of aesthetically pleasing and functional, low-energy and cost morphing materials that have a myriad of applications.