Origami has long been more than an art form; it provides engineers with solutions for compact, deployable structures in applications ranging from space systems to medical devices. A new study from Princeton University expands the possibilities of origami, showing that folded structures can be designed to actively change shape and mechanical properties in response to external forces.
Traditional origami structures typically follow predetermined folding patterns once created, which limits how they can adapt to changing conditions. To address this, Princeton’s team, led by Professor Glaucio Paulino, explored a concept called geometric frustration.
Zang, S., Zhao, T., Misseroni, D., & Paulino, G. H. (2025). Origami frustration and its influence on energy landscapes of origami assemblies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(36). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2426790122
Traditional origami structures typically follow predetermined folding patterns once created. These fixed responses limit how the structures can adapt to changing conditions. To address this, Princeton’s team, led by Glaucio Paulino, explored a concept called geometric frustration. By intentionally restricting a structure’s natural motion, engineers can guide it into folding patterns that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Glaucio Paulino researcher at Princeton University,
“Sometimes frustration is desirable. It allows designers to guide the origami into folding patterns that would normally be inaccessible, opening up possibilities for engineering structures that respond in multiple ways to external forces.”
The researchers applied this principle to cylindrical Kresling cells, a common origami motif. By adding elastic components, effectively acting as springs, they were able to introduce pre-stress within the structures. This internal energy allows the cells to twist, compress, or extend in controlled ways depending on the applied force. The result is an origami system whose mechanical response can be programmed rather than fixed.
Stacking frustrated cells enables fine control over material properties like stiffness. In practical terms, this could allow a prosthetic limb to stiffen when walking on flat terrain and become more flexible when climbing stairs. Adjustable metasurfaces for antennas and optical devices are another potential application, demonstrating the versatility of the approach.
Collaborators on the project, including Diego Misseroni from the University of Trento, highlighted how the method converts otherwise unpredictable folding patterns into precise sequences. Postdoctoral researchers Tuo Zhao and Shixi Zang emphasized that the technique allows any desired mechanical property to be encoded into the structure, creating adaptable, modular devices that respond to environmental conditions. Examples include passive sunshades that automatically open or close based on ambient temperature.
This frustrated origami system builds on prior work in programmable materials and deployable structures. Researchers have previously explored shape-changing materials for aerospace, robotics, and architecture, but integrating pre-stressed elastic elements into origami cells represents a significant step in controlling both geometry and mechanics in a single design. By combining these methods with responsive materials, engineers may create devices that can adjust shape, stiffness, or other properties on demand without additional active components.
Princeton’s findings illustrate how geometric frustration, long treated as a limitation, can become a tool for engineering adaptive, multifunctional structures. As applications in prosthetics, robotics, deployable antennas, and responsive architectural elements continue to grow, this approach may serve as a foundation for next-generation adaptive systems.
Adrian graduated with a Masters Degree (1st Class Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Chester University along with Harris. His master’s research aimed to develop a standardadised clean water oxygenation transfer procedure to test bubble diffusers that are currently used in the wastewater industry commercial market. He has also undergone placments in both US and China primarely focused within the R&D department and is an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
