DEVICE WITH PROGRAMMABLE FLEXIBILITY

摘要

Devices having programmable flexibility are disclosed, as well as methods for their preparation and operation. A device may include a plurality of flexible hollow tubes filled with a magnetorheological fluid, a plurality of permanent magnets affixed periodically inside each of the plurality of flexible hollow tubes, and a plurality of solenoids positioned and configured to produce a magnetic field that cancels at least a portion of a magnetic field produced by the plurality of permanent magnets to result in an applied magnetic field on the magnetorheological fluid. The magnetorheological fluid may be configured to flow when the applied magnetic field is lower than a threshold value and may become rigid when the applied magnetic field is higher than the threshold value.