Researchers at the University of Notre Dame's Kinetic Structure Laboratory have built a brand new type of portable military shelter that uses the science behind origami in its clever design.
These deployable shelters have a rigid wall structure, designed to be thermally insulated while saving on heating costs that are associated with traditional canvas tents. The shelters can be folded together flatly, making them easy to transport and ship abroad. The team estimates that through this clever design, emission costs will be reduced by an estimated 70 percent.
A lever system helps to lift their four part structure and these higher quality but heavier side panels can still be erected by only a few soldiers in less than one hour. Further research is also being done to improve and reduce energy consumption and the project hopes to also explore the possibility of utilizing this technology in non-military applications.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Origami-inspired Shelters
- The use of origami in the design of portable military shelters presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the construction industry.
- Thermally Insulated Structures
- The development of thermally insulated shelters for military use opens up potential disruptive innovation opportunities in the energy efficiency industry.
- Foldable Transportable Solutions
- The creation of foldable and easily transportable military shelters offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the logistics and transportation industry.
Sectors Adopting This
- Construction
- The construction industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating origami techniques into their designs, leading to more efficient and versatile structures.
- Energy Efficiency
- The energy efficiency industry can leverage the use of thermally insulated structures to create innovative solutions for reducing heating costs and improving sustainability.
- Logistics and Transportation
- The logistics and transportation industry can benefit from the development of foldable and easily transportable solutions for various applications, such as disaster relief or remote exploration.
