The Protopiper is a highly innovative handheld device, developed by a group of researchers from the Hasso-Plattner-Institut at the University of Potsdam in Germany, that is essentially a handheld gun that can fold, extrude and cut packing tape into tubes. This allows users to take computer-generated wire-frames and easily transform them into tangible forms in the real world.
Not only is the Protopiper capable of producing completely full-size outline objects, it is able to create axles, hinges and bearings. The device's most clever feature is the employment of a pair of stencils during the process of dispensing.
Ultimately, the Protopiper is designed to make it easier than ever for engineers and prototypers to work on their creations and see their ideas transformed to tangible form. This allows for the process of experimentation and prototyping to be sped up, and will allow for new inventions and innovations to be arrived at in a speedy manner.
Hand-Held Fabrication Guns
The Protopiper Lets You Produce Full-Size Outline Objects
Trend Themes
1. Hand-held Fabrication Guns - The trend of developing handheld fabrication guns, like the Protopiper, is disrupting traditional prototyping methods and enabling faster creation of tangible objects.
2. Computer-generated Wire-frames - The trend of using computer-generated wire-frames in conjunction with handheld fabrication guns opens up new possibilities for transforming digital designs into real-world objects.
3. Speeding Up Experimentation and Prototyping - The trend of using innovative tools like the Protopiper speeds up the process of experimentation and prototyping, leading to quicker development of new inventions and innovations.
Industry Implications
1. Engineering - The engineering industry can leverage handheld fabrication guns to streamline prototyping processes and accelerate the creation of functional prototypes.
2. Product Design - In product design, the use of handheld fabrication guns presents disruptive innovation opportunities by enabling designers to quickly transform digital concepts into physical models for testing and validation.
3. Manufacturing - Handheld fabrication guns have the potential to revolutionize manufacturing processes by allowing for the rapid creation of prototypes and customized components.