The project I’ve developed has incorporated the two most important innovations in science: smart materials and energy conversions. The nickel-titanium alloy –  nitinol has an incredible property of shape retention that enables it to return to its programmable shape when the heat exceeds its activation temperature. The possibilities for such a material are endless.

I am continuing the development of a motor – relying not on electricity or fossil fuels but on the difference in temperature between the heated water and air – two very abundant substances. I have also created a demonstration of nitinol’s superelasticity that enables it to retain shape and flexibility while reducing its overall weight. This is being fostered in two very prominent fields: medication and flight where nitinol implants have the biocompatibility and corrosion resistance which was mostly unheard of in a metal. Nitinol’s superelasticity and lightweight has many uses in flight where maintaining structure yet keeping weight low are highly essential.

I am in the works of creating a robot running entirely on smart materials where I would use nitinol springs like human muscles – using two of them to contract on opposite sides of joint will allow multiple axes of movement enabling for the first time a nitinol-based humanoid robot.

In my presentation, I hope to engage all age groups; bringing interest into a subject that has the possibilities to change every part of the world we live in, and yet has remained largely untouched for 40 years.

Example of contraction using electricity

With smart materials, we also created cursive letters in the word “The Om factor”. The challenge to overcome was to mold the shape into place. With a more intricate design, like cursive, the harder it is to hold the shape in place while heating it.