Deployable mechanical metamaterials with multistep programmable transformation

Transformations in shape are critical to actuation in engineered metamaterials. Existing engineering metamaterials are typically limited to a small number of shape transformations that must be built-in during material synthesis. Here, inspired by the multistability and programmability of kirigami-based self-folding elements, a robust framework is introduced for the construction of sequentially programmable and reprogrammable mechanical metamaterials. The materials can be locked into multiple stable deployed configurations and then, using tunable bistability enabled by temperature-responsive constituent materials, return to their original reference configurations or undergo mode bifurcation. The framework provides a platform to design metamaterials with multiple deployable and reversible configurations in response to external stimuli.