Engineering Origami merges the ancient Japanese art of origami with mechanical engineering principles. Origami (折り紙, ori meaning folding and kami meaning paper) transforms flat sheets of paper into intricate 3D shapes, and its principles extend beyond art to provide innovative engineering solutions. This course introduces students to the structural and functional potential of folded paper, showing how origami can address engineering challenges in fields like aerospace, materials science, robotics, and architecture. Students will explore key principles like fold geometry, material efficiency, and deployable systems, while learning to apply mechanical concepts such as stress analysis and material properties to create functional origami structures. Through hands-on learning, students will fold traditional designs and study real-world applications of origami, including shape-shifting systems, metamaterials, and robotics. Weekly assignments and videos will stimulate in-class discussions, and the course will include a final project that requires students to design and present their own origami-inspired engineering solution.
Prerequisites
Be in the Honors Program