Variable Stiffness
Temporarily on show in Het Nieuwe Instituut's Gallery 3 is the futuristic Variable Stiffness chaise longue. Developed by TU Delft's Robotic Building Lab in collaboration with 3D Robot Printing, it can change shape as the user changes their posture, becoming a recliner or a chair. Due to its unique production process, Variable Stiffness is on one of the 10 innovation stamps, produced in a collaboration between TU Delft and PostNL, which also feature in the exhibition.
7 October 2021 10:00 - 23 October 2021 17:00
The geometry of the chaise longue is generated to accommodate an average human body size and weight, either sitting or reclining. The user automatically changes the shape to suit either sitting or reclining by deforming the back part of the chaise longue by leaning against it. The weight of the user triggers the shape change, which is achieved by combining variation in material distribution with the use of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Watch the video to find out more.
Innovation stamps
The Innovative Netherlands stamp sheet, a collaboration between PostNL and TU Delft, focuses on the innovative capacity of the Netherlands. The illustrations on the stamps refer to various new processes developed by scientists from the university in collaboration with government and businesses. The cheerful illustrations are by cartoonist Erwin Suvaal.