Kenneth Chun-Wai Cheung

US Patent:

20100292836, Nov 18, 2010

Filed:

Mar 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/732184

Inventors:

Kenneth C. Cheung - Boston MA, US
Ara Knaian - Newton MA, US
Neil Gershenfeld - Somerville MA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
B25J 17/00

US Classification:

700245, 7449005

Abstract:

Cellular automotion digital material is useable for rapid prototyping and fabrication of continuous string conformations and two- or three-dimensional shapes through actuation of a string, surface, or volume composed of identical discrete units. Each unit is an actuated joint having a single degree of freedom. The actuated joint includes a two-part actuator having an inner active portion and an outer passive portion that are controllably rotatable relative to each other, the outer portion being configured to fit within the housing of an adjacent cellular automotion unit, and a linkage element that includes a main strut and a housing and is connected to the actuator by a pin connector. The housing is configured to house the actuator of an adjacent cellular automation unit, and the opening in the strut is rotated about the axis of symmetry of the cellular automotion unit relative to the opening in the housing so that the alignment of the cellular automotion unit will be rotated with respect to the alignment of any adjacent unit. The cellular automotion unit may include an on-board processor for controlling actuation of the cellular automotion unit.

US Patent:

20120094060, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 19, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/277103

Inventors:

Neil Gershenfeld - Somerville MA, US
Kenneth Cheung - Boston MA, US

Assignee:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B32B 3/06
B23P 11/00
B32B 5/02

US Classification:

428 99, 29428

Abstract:

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a digital material comprising many discrete units is used to fabricate a sparse structure. The units are reversibly joined by elastic connections. Each unit comprises fiber-reinforced composite material. Each unit is small compared to the sparse structure as a whole. Likewise, in a sparse structure made from this digital material, the number of types of units is small compared to the total number of units. The digital material is anisotropic. This anisotropy may be due to different fiber orientations within each unit. Furthermore, different units in a single sparse structure may be oriented in different directions and in different, non-parallel planes. In some cases, the digital material is reinforced with carbon fibers, and connections between units are stronger than the units themselves. The small discrete units may be assembled into a strong, lightweight sparse structure, such as an airframe.

US Patent:

20120303153, Nov 29, 2012

Filed:

Feb 2, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/365199

Inventors:

Neil Gershenfeld - Somerville MA, US
Nadya Peek - Cambridge MA, US
Kenneth Cheung - Boston MA, US
David Watson - Newtownabbey, GB

Assignee:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B29C 39/00

US Classification:

700198

Abstract:

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a network of nodes controls and senses the cure of a thermosetting plastic in a component that is made of fiber composite material. The network comprises multiple nodes, which are separated spatially from each other. Each of the nodes, respectively, comprises a heat transfer device for actively transferring thermal energy, a temperature sensor for taking local temperature measurements, and a processor. In each of the nodes, respectively: (a) the processor locally performs closed loop control over the temperature of the heat transfer device, and (b) the closed loop control is based at least in part on the local temperature measurements and on estimated or measured input current to the heat transfer device.

US Patent:

20140018441, Jan 16, 2014

Filed:

Jul 12, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/941405

Inventors:

Charles Fracchia - Cambridge MA, US
Neil Gershenfeld - Cambridge MA, US
Kenneth Cheung - Freehold NJ, US

International Classification:

C07H 21/04

US Classification:

514777, 536 231, 530395, 5303911, 422149

Abstract:

In exemplary implementations of this invention, hierarchical, nanometer-precise assembly is performed: A first structural unit is attached to a solid substrate in a first fluidic flow. A second structural unit is attached to the first structural unit in a second fluidic flow, a third structural unit is attached to the second structural unit in a third fluidic flow, and so on, until a target structure comprising the structural units is assembled. The first, second, third and so on fluidic flows are separate and occur in order in a temporal sequence. During the temporal sequence, a specific permutation of nucleobases is used repeatedly, in separate fluidic flows which occur at different times, to form multiple attachments between structural units in an assembly. The assembled target structure is removed from the solid substrate. Attachments between the structural units may be formed by nucleobase pairing.

US Patent:

20140037873, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Aug 7, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/961880

Inventors:

Kenneth C. Cheung - Boston MA, US
Neil Adam Gershenfeld - Somerville MA, US

Assignee:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B32B 3/06
E04B 1/02
B64C 1/00

US Classification:

428 341, 428 99, 29428

Abstract:

Digital flexural materials are kits of discrete parts that can be assembled into a lattice structure to produce functionally useful assemblies. Digital flexural materials enable design of materials with many small and inexpensive flexures that combine in a lattice geometry that permits deformation without compromising the strength of the assembly. The number of types of parts in a kit is small compared to the total number of parts. A product constructed from digital flexural materials comprises a set of discrete units that are assembled into the structure according to a lattice geometry, with a majority of the units being reversibly connected to at least two other units in the set according to the lattice geometry, and wherein, in response to loading of the structure, a reversible deformation of at least part of the structure occurs. An automated process may be employed for constructing a product from digital flexural materials.

US Patent:

20210146581, May 20, 2021

Filed:

Nov 19, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/952896

Inventors:

- Cambridge MA, US
- Washington DC, US
Kenneth Cheung - Emerald Hills CA, US
Christine Gregg - Emerald Hills CA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA
United States Government as represented by The Administrator of NASA - Washington DC

International Classification:

B29C 45/00
B29C 65/48
B29C 65/60
B29C 65/02
B29C 65/00

Abstract:

A method for the design, manufacture, and assembly of modular lattice structures composed of cuboctahedron unit cells.

US Patent:

20200283121, Sep 10, 2020

Filed:

Mar 9, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/812502

Inventors:

- Cambridge MA, US
Neil Gershenfeld - Cambridge MA, US
Sean Swei - Moffett Field CA, US
Nicholas Cramer - Moffett Field CA, US
Kenneth Cheung - Moffett Field CA, US

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B64C 3/48
C08L 79/08
C08K 7/14
B64C 3/52
B64C 3/26

Abstract:

A shape-morphing ultralight structure using materials that dramatically increase the efficiency of load-bearing aerostructures that includes a programmable material system applied as a large-scale, ultralight, and conformable (shape-morphing) aeroelastic structure. The use of a modular, lattice-based, ultralight material results in stiffness and density typical of an elastomer. This, combined with a building block-based manufacturing and configuration strategy, enables the rapid realization of new adaptive structures and mechanisms. The heterogeneous design with programmable anisotropy allows for enhanced elastic and global shape deformation in response to external loading, making it useful for tuned fluid-structure interaction. The present invention demonstrates an example application experiment using two building block types for the primary structure of a 4.27 m wingspan aircraft with spatially programed elastic shape morphing to increase aerodynamic efficiency.

US Patent:

20160070254, Mar 10, 2016

Filed:

Jun 21, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/924530

Inventors:

Sarah Hovsepian - Cambridge MA, US
Neil Adam Gershenfeld - Somerville MA, US
Kenneth Cheung - Boston MA, US

Assignee:

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G05B 19/4097

Abstract:

A digital material skin is made of a set of discrete units with a finite set of parts and joints. The discrete units are assembled into a layer according to a regular geometry, with each of the discrete units being reversibly connected to at least one other unit in the set. The reversibly connected set of units forms an exterior structure surface that is larger than the individual discrete units. Digital material skins may be used to construct any shape or interior volume, whether regular or amorphous. The skin surface may be enclosed or open. The skin may rely on an interior digital material structure for support or may be self-supported. The skin may be part of a larger assembly or apparatus, enclosing an interior volume or structure.