40-Year-Old Patent Realized: Y-Zipper Switches Objects Between Flexible and Rigid
lukas_m_ziegler · x · 2026-08-21
The "Y-zipper," a three-sided fastener 3D-printed from a 40-year-old patent, allows objects to transition between flexible and rigid states.
In robotics, it enables quadruped robots to adjust leg stiffness in real-time for different terrains without extra motors or complex mechanisms. Other applications include smart casts that loosen during the day and stiffen at night, and tents that pop up in 90 seconds.
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