Lamina emergent mechanisms (LEMs) are made from sheet materials and have motion that emerges out of the fabrication plane. LEMs can be more compact, more cost effective, and more easily manufactured than many traditional mechanisms. Single-layer and multi-layer LEM designs could greatly benefit from suitable actuation techniques that are consistent with the advantages of these mechanisms. Bulky actuators may not be good choices for use with LEMs. This paper classifies forces and moments applicable to LEMs, shows how multi-layer LEMs can achieve emergent motion in simplified ways, and studies actuation methods for the macro scale. Shape memory alloys, piezo-electrics, and dielectric elastomers are explored as possible ways of setting LEMs into motion.
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