MIT demonstrates soft sheet that reconstructs its shape with less than 0.4-centimeter error

MIT engineers demonstrated a flexible sheet that reconstructs its three-dimensional shape as it bends and twists, with measured error below 0.4 centimeters. The team reported that existing designs using rigid sensors have errors of around 1 to 2 centimeters. Soft optical fibers zig-zag through silicone. Each fiber has a partially roughened core, making its light output change differently depending on bending direction. An algorithm converts those measurements into a digital reconstruction almost in real time. The sheet continued reconstructing its shape after some fibers were cut or disconnected. Garments for robot control and physical therapy are prospective applications; the researchers plan to thin the fibers, which are currently 1 millimeter thick.