On demand design of reversible shape changing metamaterials
We propose to commercialize a software for the automatic design of responsive metamaterials structures for additive manufacturing. During the course of the ERC AdG SIZEFFECTS project, the PI studied the effect of disorder on the mechanics of materials using discrete elements models (DEM), allowing for an efficient simulation of large disordered structures, including metamaterials. The METADESIGN project exploits DEM methodologies and optimization algorithms developed throughout the SIZEFFECTS project to solve the general problem of efficient and automatic design of responsive metamaterials machines. The algorithms put forward by the METADESIGN project is able to produce generic elementary metamaterial actuators with a broad set of possible movements and efficiencies. We propose a commercialization strategy that aims at deploying the software on the cloud allowing for flexible on demand services. Industrial partners and target costumers will be searched in the automotive, robotics and manufacturing industries.