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MIT researchers revive 40-year-old triangular zipper concept now made possible by 3D printing, creates shape-shifting robots and deployable structures

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tomshardware.com 2026-05-10 Etiido Uko

MIT researchers have developed a 3D-printed three-sided zipper that rapidly transforms floppy structures into rigid beams, robotic limbs, and deployable frameworks using triangular geometry.

3D printing robotics reconfigurable structures soft robotics zipper mechanism triangular geometry shape memory materials smart materials