How FlexSys is Changing the World of Mechanisms
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent,
...but the most responsive to change"
- Charles Darwin
AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
Automotive Wiper
FlexShape is a structurally optimized, monoform wiper design that reduced part part from 15 to 3. See its story here.
Mirror Actuator
This mirror actuator reduced the number of components from 18 to 7, with improved backlash.
Automotive Interiors
shape-changing technologies are currently being considered for improving automotive interior design and seating. Under non-disclosure agreements at this time.
JOINT-LESS MOTION AMPLIFICATION
Motion Amplifiers
Amplify motion 30x to 200x without joints and assembly. Possible wearable tactile applications. We used this technology to turn the rear car window into a speaker for a major automotive OEM. Ideal for miniaturization.
Piezoelectric Amplifier
FlexSys monolithic 65x motion amplifier is opening the door to new, compact, high-power actuation systems.
Adaptive Grippers
Joint-less, single part robotic gripper designs reduce sensing complexity and are low cost enough to be single-use..
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
With no assembly required, these joint-less mechanisms have been miniaturized at Sandia National Laboratories.
JOINT-LESS MECHANISMS
Joint-less Stapler
As seen in Mechanical Engineering Magazine and our favorite demonstration of drastic part reductions that can be achieved through "Flexible" thinking.
Joint-less Iris
The base IP behind the FlexFidget and Iris Pendant on sale at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum.
Joint-less Latch
This single-part mechanism eliminated assembly and contamination from lubrication.
Multi-Stable
FlexSys has demonstrated a number of compliant mechanism designs that distribute flexural strain throughout the device in ways that enhance the performance of existing devices as well as allowing many new functions in single-use application.
MEDICAL
By distributing compliance over the whole mechanism, a tissue friendly manipulator can direct very specific and carefully defined gripping strength for surgery at macro- and micro scales but afford enough flexibility to not damage the tissue.
This compliant directional bone surgery tool was developed for the University of Michigan Office of Medical Research. The low cost stamped carrier conforms to the bone curvature to more easily remove cartilage layers.
A compliant prosthetic mechanism can emulate the complexity of a joint such this compliant wrist joint.
SOFT ROBOTICS
Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Enclosures, or FREEs, has many potential applications such as soft robotic gripping, physical therapy, and seating.
MEMS
These bed bugs are going for a ride on a mems-go-round demonstrating the miniaturization capability of compliant actuation mechanisms due to not having the need for assembly.
ADAPTIVE DESIGNS
Compliant design is adaptive by nature. In this clip, the iris demonstration device is shown to adapt in size and grip different objects.
