Munich. The BMW Design Department in collaboration
with MIT’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Self-Assembly
Laboratory have successfully developed printed inflatable material
technologies that selftransform, adapt and morph from one state to
another. This visionary commission is showcased at the VA and for
the first time on display during their exhibition The Future
Starts Here, which explores the power of design in shaping the
world of tomorrow.
The BMW Design Department and MIT’s Self-Assembly Laboratory have
started their cross-disciplinary study two years back with the mutual
ambition to push the boundaries of material technologies. BMW’s
forward thinking concepts of future interiors that can interact and
adapt seamlessly were the starting point of an in depth exploration by
MIT’s Self-Assembly Laboratory. This collaboration resulted in the
first example of a fully printed inflatable that can be customized to
any size or shape. The silicone printed object can change shape
depending on the amount of air pressure in the system. The pneumatic
controls in the system allow the printed structure to transform into a
variety of shapes, functions or stiffness characteristics.
“The outcome of this collaboration manifests that a new material
future is imminent“, says Martina Starke, head of BMW Brand Vision and
BMW Brand Design at BMW Group. Together with the Self-Assembly
Laboratory at MIT, Starke was eager to move away from our current
understanding of car interiors as the forces reshaping the nature of
transportation are eventually shifting toward a kind of vehicle that
defies conventions like front and back seats. „There is no need to
lock the car of the future into any particular shape. Interiors could
even take on malleable, modular uses“, she explains further. This is
why the study is fully focusing on technological dimensions and
material properties at this stage.
After testing various directions on how a visionary interior could
take shape, the experts at the Self-Assembly Lab achieved a
breakthrough when they managed to liquid print air and water-tight
inflatable geometries, like customized printable balloons. With this
technology they can produce complex channels and pockets that
self-transform. Skylar Tibbits, founder of the Self-Assembly Lab
explains: „We then brought together a number of recent technologies
such as Rapid Liquid Printing and techniques from soft robotics to
achieve this adaptive material structure. In the past, scenarios like
these have often required errorprone and complex electromechanical
devices or complex moulding/tooling to produce inflatables. Now we’re
able to print complex inflatable structures with custom actuation and
tuneable stiffness.“
On display at the VA is a three dimensional object which is
highly dynamic, morphing its form and function. This meter-scale
object exhibits robotic-like transformation from a pneumatic system
with seven independent chambers to create different movement patterns.
„This adaptive material technology points towards a future of
transformable surfaces for adaptive human comfort, cushioning and
impact performance“, says Martina Starke.
The Future Starts Here brings together ground-breaking
technologies and designs currently in development in studios and
laboratories around the world. Drawing upon international research,
and working closely with a range of companies, universities,
practitioners and advisors, the exhibition explores over 100 projects
shaping the world of tomorrow. „We are proud to be one of the
contributors to show our achievements“, concludes Martina Starke, „The
’Liquid Printed Pneumatics’ project is a perfect example for a
fruitful cross-disciplinary collaboration we’ll see more and more over
the coming years, especially at BMW.“