Artificial Intelligence is rapidly taking over various aspects of this global era. Artificial intelligence has simplified many aspects of our lives. Simultaneously it has found a firm ground in research and innovation. And one of them is the manufacturing of a new product.
Researchers at TU Delft have developed a new super-compressible material through AI. However, tests are not conducted on it as of now.
Miguel Bessa, the first author of a publication on this subject in Advanced Materials on 14 October, shares his views. He sees the AI as a resource which the scientists have to utilize, like a treasure map where scientists find the treasure.
Miguel Bessa is an assistant professor in materials science and engineering at TU Delft. He thought of this idea while at the California Institute of Technology. At a corner of the Space Structures Lab, he noticed a satellite structure that could open long solar sails from a very small package.
From then on, he started considering if such products could be made. A strong and compressible material to be folded to a small fraction of its volume.
If this would be possible, then bicycles, dinner tables, and umbrellas could fit in one’s pocket.
However, this new material requires adaptability, multi-purpose, and flexible to change. This needs structure-dominated materials. These are metamaterials that warp geometries. Also, they introduce new functionalities and properties.
The invention of metamaterial has gone through experiments and trial and error approach. The researchers seem to favor the inverting method to explore new designs. Subsequently, this will minimize experimentations.
The computational data-driven approach explores the metamaterial. The material is then trialed and adapted to different target properties, choice of base materials, length scales, and manufacturing process.
Assisted with the machine, Bessa devised the fabric into two, changing them to lightweight, recoverable, and super-compressible. The macro-scale features maximum compressibility while the micro-scale one specializes in high strength and stiffness.
Bessa argues that sufficient and appropriate data helps to design the fabric. The machine fills in the other details and makes for what else is required.
Moreover, the researcher argues for data-driven research in mechanics and material science as this will open new ventures and developments in the research field.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the technological innovation and creativity. Thus, it needs to be carefully followed to know of the rapidly developing digital prowess and finesse.