'Chinese lantern' structure shifts into more than a dozen shapes for various applications

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a versatile polymer Chinese lantern that can transform into over a dozen shapes in three-dimensional space using a magnetic field.

• The innovative Chinese lantern structure can rapidly change shapes, demonstrating the ability to shift into more than a dozen configurations through data compression and twisting.
• This polymer technology, developed at North Carolina State University, allows for significant applications across various fields by manipulating shapes in three-dimensional space.
• Utilizing a magnetic field, the lantern can be remotely controlled, showcasing potential for advanced uses in robotics and adaptive structures within engineering.