Shape-shifting paper could help tiny bots take flight

A new breakthrough in materials science may pave the way for those inevitable swarms of tiny flying robots that will one day darken the skies and strike fear into us all, as researchers in South Korea have succeeded in coaxing specially-prepared cellophane paper to rapidly curve and straighten itself in an insect-like flapping motion. Although scientists have apparently known since the 1950's that wood was piezoelectric, meaning that it bends slightly when exposed to electricity, it took a team from Inha University with help from Texas A&M to discover that the same property also holds true for other cellulose-based material. By coating both sides of a sheet of cellophane with thin layers of gold, the researchers were able to create so-called Electroactive paper (EAPap) so sensitive that the voltage from a microwave beam provides enough power to trigger its unique shape-changing abilities. Oddly enough, no one is quite sure of the physics behind the transformation -- theories center around pressure changes resulting from the movement of ions -- but regardless of how it works, we're sure that more than a few governments will be most interested in deploying this technology to beef up their domestic and international surveillance programs.

[Via Roland Piquepaille and ScienceNOW]

[Oddmanout @ Jul 2nd 2006 9:23PM]

"we're sure that more than a few governments will be most interested in deploying this technology to beef up their domestic and international surveillance programs."

Not to mention Bruce Wayne...

[daniel @ Jul 2nd 2006 9:58PM]

man thats cool

the self building origami is here

>> formatc.co.nr

[Tim Sonderman @ Jul 2nd 2006 10:01PM]

Consipiracy Theorists..... go!

[Zorak @ Jul 2nd 2006 10:08PM]

I, for one, welcome our new shape-shifting robo-paper overlords.

[Ebot @ Jul 2nd 2006 11:18PM]

Happy Day! Yet another invention that would have practical, non-military application being scoped out by big brother. What a wonderful turn of events for us all.

[AUA @ Jul 2nd 2006 11:33PM]

Wow! Scientists have rediscovered Nitinol.

[Jammin Blue @ Jul 2nd 2006 11:39PM]

Those robot overlord jokes are not just old, they are also irritating and annoying.

[Jonathan @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:17AM]

I have to admit, I never post them (robot overlord posts that is) but I do get a chuckle.

This sort of stuff will go a long way in making sci-fi, science.

[William @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:29AM]

just what i need a tiny fly-bot watching me.

Hooray

[Scotty @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:31AM]

Batman Begins???

[naryamithrandir @ Jul 3rd 2006 12:36AM]

hm...this sounds just like the memory cloth from batman begins! (what the posters above were referring to). Thats pretty darn cool! would be even better if this brought about a real batman!
woot woot
lol
=D

[Kurt @ Jul 3rd 2006 1:20AM]

These are made from cellophane. Sandwiches around the world have no fucking chance anymore.

[Toby Piller @ Jul 3rd 2006 1:22AM]

Well I already got this EMP gun, now I add a microwave ray gun to my arsenal. hmm, maybe I can intergrate both into one anti-robot weapon...

[robo @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:46AM]

aww c'mon Jammin Blue, d'you really get annoyed by the old "welcoming the overlords" gag...? Really?? 'cuz you gotta lighten up...

[Prester John @ Jul 3rd 2006 3:32AM]

I, for one, welcome "robot overlord" jokes. The only reason I don't post them more often is that I'm usually beaten to it.

[Fernando Cassia @ Jul 3rd 2006 6:05AM]

You guys missed the best part:

"By coating both sides of a sheet of cellophane with thin layers of gold"

GOLD!. Hmmm... now I envision people chasing these flying robot mosquitoes with giant fishing nets...

:-)

[justin j @ Jul 3rd 2006 7:19AM]

I've been coming to Engadget for about a month now, multiples times a day, for the best sci-news/commentary around. Whenever I read the "welcome the over-lords",,,it gets me throught he day.

[Brian from Texas @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:30AM]

^ Me too, I love it. It's the main reason I come here. I love our robot friends.

[sidd @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:02AM]

no more paper airplanes
now its time for real flying paper birds!

[Kelvin D. Olson @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:15AM]

Add this technology to a book, so the pages can turn themselves, and I can go FWD and BACK with a remote... THEN maybe I'll read the classics.

[Shunnabunich @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:52AM]

Kelvin: If you were far enough away to need a remote to flip the pages, you wouldn't be able to make out the words anyway. Get an e-ink ebook reader! :) Where self-page-turning books might be useful is in a museum, where certain books might be under protective glass or something. Or wait...if a book is so delicate it can't be touched, you probably shouldn't go cyborging it. Damn, oh well. ^_^

[Jon H @ Jul 3rd 2006 3:14PM]

Get back to me when they actually get something to fly.

Flight is more complicated than just flapping some wing-shaped membranes.