Researchers at the AMOLF institute have developed a new mechanism that eventually shrinks when pulled, called counter-snapping instabilities.
It is composed of sub-components that stretch until a certain threshold, at which point they contract due to compliant joints.
This unusual behaviour could have several potential applications, such as unidirectional actuators or damping systems that stop vibrations from escalating.
The mechanism works due to the wonders of compliant mechanics, an exciting new field that the authors suggest readers explore further, such as with this 3D-printed blaster design that uses compliant components.
Compliant mechanics generally refers to the study of how objects behave when they are deformed by external forces, and is useful in many areas such as robotics, aerospace, and medical devices.
This new finding demonstrates how creative and surprising applications of the principle can be.
