The next wave of factories more closely resembles bird-wings than modern machines

Introducing Compliant Mechanisms

What do spaceship release parts, surgical robots and tools have in common?

They require us to build “things” that (most of the time) “move” or have the ability to “move things.” (AKA we’re dealing with mechanisms).

While software is taking over the world, we haven’t yet experienced the same takeover for physical items. (Don’t get me wrong, I hope software continues taking more substantial bites out of our world. The point I’m making is we haven’t seen the same level of innovation with hardware).

Since we don’t have fully immersive VR (yet!), all of us are stuck living in the real world. We interact with mechanisms all the time! I’m writing this on the Toronto Subway, which has wheels, gears, pulleys, etc. Without tools, the doors wouldn’t open to let me in; the subway wouldn’t be able to move, etc.

Mechanisms make our non-human items move. They’ll become essential assets in spacecraft creation; they’ll make tumour-suppressing surgical robots and some cool chainsaws.

Today, the way we use mechanisms is pretty saturated. The first thing that comes to mind is probably transportation. We would still be riding on horses if it wasn’t for movable machinery. Energy is another big one. The fact that we have steam engines is a mechanical invention. Manufacturing, as well.