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                     Thank you for your attention and support for our work!
As we step into the Year of the Snake, we share five special wishes with you:
        May your dreams come true, with determination leading you forward！
        May you stay youthful and full of energy, embracing new opportunities！
        May you shoulder responsibility with warmth and mutual support！
        May you explore boldly, carving new paths with agility and insight！
        May innovation bring you success and new heights in your journey！

        These five blessings reflect not only our hopes for the Year of the Snake but also the core values our lab has upheld throughout. Over the past year, guided by ideals, youth, responsibility, exploration, and innovation, we’ve celebrated many memorable moments. Now, let’s take “The Five Blessings” as a thread to revisit the achievements of 2024 and look forward to the boundless possibilities ahead!

Dream
In the laboratory, guided by ideals, we come together
to embark on a journey of exploration.

        In 2024, the Structures of Motion Laboratory welcomed many new faces. With their passion for research and ideals, they have joined our team and brought fresh energy to the lab. Let's welcome them!

Tianshu Wang, Postdoctoral fellow

Zhe Jiang, PhD student

Xinrui Tao, PhD student

Xineng Tu, Master student

Chenhao Zhang, Master student

Jiaming Liu, Master student

        In 2024, some members have successfully graduated after overcoming mountains and rivers. Congratulations to them!

Weiqi Liu, doctor Postdoctoral fellow, Tianjin University

Chenjie Zhao, Master Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) First Aircraft Institute

Minglue Liu, Master Beijing Aerospace Precision Machinery Research Institute

        The arrival of new members and the farewell of old friends have made the Structures of Motion Laboratory an even more vibrant and diverse family.

        Ideals bring us together, and friendship keeps us united. Beyond our research, team-building activities have created unforgettable moments. This is not only a stage for pursuing dreams but also a place to share in growth and joy.

A photo of team building activity, 2024.

Youth
The youth of the laboratory is embodied by a group of passionate,
dream-driven researchers, full of energy and ambition.

        In 2024, the youth of the Structures of Motion Laboratory shone through a series of awards. Our team’s achievements in academic competitions and research evaluations reflect not only individual dedication but also the collective wisdom and spirit of the lab.

1. PhD Student Chai Sibo Approved National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Basic Research Project
        Recently, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced the projects funded under the 2024 NSFC Youth Basic Research Program for PhD Students. Sibo Chai, a PhD student at MSL since 2021, has received approval for the NSFC PhD Project for his research titled "Study on the Pattern Design and Deformation Characteristics of Curved-Surface Origami Structures."

2. Sibo Chai, Yuehao Zhang, and Houhua Chen were awarded the China National Scholarship.
         In the 2024 China National Scholarship selection, Ph.D. students Sibo Chai and Yuehao Zhang, along with master's student Houhua Chen from the Motion Structure Laboratory, earned the awards due to their exceptional research capabilities, outstanding academic achievements, and all-round developments. This recognition is not only a result of their hard work but also a reflection of the collaborative spirit within the laboratory. Congratulations to them!

3. Dr. Yuanqing Gu's doctoral thesis was awarded the 2023 Lagrange Award – Multibody System Dynamics Outstanding PhD Thesis Prize
        The Multibody System Dynamics Outstanding PhD Thesis Prize, also denominated Lagrange Award to the best PhD research on Multibody Dynamics, was established in 2017 by the IFToMM Technical Committee for Multibody Dynamics with the aim of recognizing the outstanding achievements of a young researcher (under 35 years old) at the early stage of their scientific career. The Lagrange Award is presented annually to recognize the most successful PhD thesis on Multibody Dynamics over the prior year as judged by the evaluation committee. Since its establishment in 2017, a total of nine people worldwide won the Lagrange Prize.

4. Chuhan Xu won the " Second Award of Best Poster" and the "Green Innovation Award" at the 9th Soft Robot Conference

5. Sibo Chai won the "Best Poster Content Award" at the 2024 SES Annual Technical Meeting

6. "Origami-based Reconfigurable Structures for Antenna" won the “Qixian” Excellent Paper Award at the 24th IFToMM China International Conference on Mechanism and Machine Science & Engineering

Responsibility
Responsibility is not just about advancing academia,
but also a commitment to society and its practical needs.

        In 2024, we have consistently worked to bring 'Structures of Motion' from the laboratory to the wider world.

1. Responsibility drives the application of technology: Exhibit at the 2024 Sustainable Social Value Innovation Summit: the Hardcore Science Behind Origami Tents
         The 2024 Sustainable Social Value Innovation Summit took place in Beijing on December 3rd. Professor Yan Chen is a Xplorer Prize winner under the New Cornerstone Science Foundation initiated by Tencent, and was invited to exhibit origami technologies including origami tents and the Miura-ori pattern. This exhibit was one of four representative works of research selected from New Cornerstone Foundation’s projects, and demonstrated for the public and representatives from industry, government and the United Nations how origami and mechanism theory provides value for engineering and society.

        Curiosity and astonishment for origami technology was ubiquitous among audiences, who were shown how paper airplanes and origami cranes of childhood can lead to an entire field of research with a multitude of research outcomes leading to engineering applications and social value. We express our deepest gratitude to Tencent Sustainable Social Value Organization and New Cornerstone Science Foundation for their support and invitation.

2. Professor Yan Chen was awarded the title of "National Science Popularization Advanced Individual"
        On August 16, 2024, Professor Yan Chen was honored with the title of " National Science Popularization Advanced Individual".
        The title, conferred by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Central Propaganda Department, and the China Association for Science and Technology, recognizes individuals who have made positive contributions to promoting the spirit of science, disseminating scientific knowledge, enhancing the national capacity for science popularization, accelerating the construction of a strong science and technology nation, and promoting the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

        Over the years, Professor Yan Chen has conducted a variety of engaging science popularization lectures in primary and secondary schools across the country, effectively enhancing students' scientific literacy and broadening their horizons. She has also traveled to Dazhai Village in Dangchang County, Gansu Province, to participate in the "Stay and Build" Dream Summer Camp, spreading scientific knowledge and contributing to the local rural revitalization. In the "Strong Country Classroom" series of lectures, Professor Yan Chen, under the topic "Exploring the Scientific Code Behind Origami", revealed to the public the mysteries of the integration of traditional origami art with modern technology, showcasing the unique charm of the interweaving of science and art. In the "Ge Zhi Forum" lecture, with the theme "Hardcore Origami Guide: From Art to Science", she detailed the engineering equipment based on origami structures, emphasizing the extensive application and profound impact of origami art in interdisciplinary fields, facilitating the cross-boundary dissemination of scientific knowledge. Additionally, she participated in the compilation of "Our Amazing China: The Impressive Power of Science", further promoting the popularization of scientific knowledge

3. Transmission of Knowledge to the Future Generations: Actively Participate in Lab Open Day Events
        The Motion Structure Laboratory has always focused on cultivating undergraduate students' innovative awareness. To guide lower-year undergraduates in understanding the profession and cutting-edge developments in the field, to inspire them with the spirit of Tianjin University’s motto of "Seeking truth from facts, committed to innovation," and to strengthen their belief in "technology revitalizing the nation and making the country stronger through technology," the laboratory actively participates in the Laboratory Open Day events organized by the School of Mechanical Engineering at Tianjin University. During the events, laboratory members introduced the research achievements of the laboratory to the lower-year undergraduates, allowing them to experience the charm of technological innovation up close, broaden their horizons, and cultivate their interest in scientific research.

Exploration
Exploration is the driving force of science and our relentless pursuit.

        The Motion Structure Laboratory has consistently encouraged its members to step out of the lab and engage with the wider academic community. Over the past year, our members actively participated in various academic conferences and research exchanges, which not only broadened their perspectives but also inspired new ideas.

1. The 8th International Meeting on Origami in Science, Mathematics and Education (8OSME) was held in Melbourne, Australia, from July 16 to 18, 2024. Several members of the team participated in the conference, including Professor Yan Chen, who gave an invited keynote speech, Professor Jiayao Ma, who chaired a session, and Associate Researcher Xiao Zhang and PhD student Kaili Xi, who each gave presentations in a session.

2. The 24th IFToMM China International Conference on Mechanism and Machine Science & Engineering (IFTOMM CCMMS 2024) was held in Tianjin, China, from August 12 to 14, 2024. The conference was hosted by Tianjin University and organized by Tianjin University and the National Key Laboratory of Aerospace Spacecraft. Professor Yan Chen, as the conference chair, led the team in successfully organizing and participating in the event. Weiqi Liu and Yuehao Zhang delivered academic presentations, while Associate Researcher Xiao Zhang and Professor Yu Luo from the School of Microelectronics co-authored the paper 'Reconfigurable Antenna Structure Based on Origami,' which won the 'Qi Xian Best Presentation Award.'

3. On June 19, 2024, at the invitation of Professor Yan Chen, Academician Yiming Chen from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore visited the Motion Structure Laboratory and delivered an insightful lecture titled 'A Robotic Engineer's Journey: from Academia to Entrepreneurship.' He reviewed the history of computer miniaturization and intelligence, shared his experiences in modular robotics technology and humanoid robot competitions, as well as his entrepreneurial journey in robotics in fields such as construction and logistics. Finally, Academician Chen engaged in a discussion with the faculty and students about the future prospects and technical challenges of robotics.

4. The 2024 SES Annual Technical Meeting (SES·2024) was grandly held in Hangzhou, China, from August 20 to 23, 2024. Team members Zhibo Wei, Weiqi Liu, Sibo Chai, Kaili Xi, and Xiaochen Yang attended the conference and delivered academic presentations. The poster presented by Sibo Chai won the 'Best Poster Content' award.

5. The 9th Soft Robotics Conference was held in Beijing, China, from November 15 to 17, 2024. Professor Yan Chen attended the conference and was invited to give a keynote speech. Team members also participated in the event, and the poster presented by Chuhan Xu won the 'Outstanding Poster Second Prize' and the 'Green Environmental Creativity Award.'

6. The 6th Deployable Space Structure Conference (6th DSSC) was held in Shenzhen, China, from November 15 to 17, 2024. Team members attended the conference.

Innovation
Innovation is the soul of science and the foundation of the laboratory.

        The Structures of Motion Laboratory provides comprehensive support for innovation: state-of-the-art equipment, ample research funding, a conducive academic atmosphere, and a team of mentors with profound expertise, ensuring that every idea has the opportunity to blossom.
        In the past year, the Structures of Motion Laboratory has focused on cutting-edge fields such as metamaterials, robotics, and deployable structures, achieving remarkable results. These include multiple high-level papers published in prestigious international journals, such asScience Advances(a leading interdisciplinary journal),Advanced Materials(a top journal in materials science), and Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids(a renowned journal in solid mechanics).

【Journal Papers】Science Advances
        Prof. Yan Chen’s Motion Structure Laboratory, in collaborated with Academician Deng Zongquan’s Aerospace Deployable and Morphing Structure Laboratory at Harbin Institute of Technology and Prof. Zhong You’s team at University of Oxford, designed a new family of programmable and reconfigurable origami multistable metamorphous structures. These structures are composed of modular bistable units which are rigid origami, and resultant reconfigurability and shape change require no facet deformation. Through modular expansion laterally and integration with shape memory alloy strips, a multistable robotic limb and a programmable origami mechanical metamaterial are developed. This work provides a versatile origami-based building block for reconfigurable shape morphing structures and metamaterial architecture.

【Journal Papers】Advanced Materials
        The team proposed a kinematics-based design framework for thermal expansion metamaterials, and developed a family of 3D programmable metamaterials with isotropic and orthotropic thermal expansion properties based on one-DOF kirigami foldable polyhedrons. Such enriched isotropic and orthotropic thermal expansion properties are tailorable over an ultra-wide range and thus offer potentially powerful options for applications in spacial optical systems, precision instruments, and others that demand operations in a broad range of temperatures.

【Journal Papers】Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
        The team has published a paper in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, in which we designed a series of curved-crease origami structures made of both planar and curved facets. Under the boundary constraints of the Sarrus linkages formed by the planar facets, the curved facets no longer follow the bending mode of the generators; instead, they exhibit a deformation mode characterized by elastic traveling folds, which resembles the traveling plastic hinges observed in plastic mechanics. Based on this deformation mechanism, an analytical model for the uniaxial compression of curved-crease origami structures has been established. By transforming specific positions of the elastic folds during the movement into physical creases, programmable multi-stable characteristics have been achieved within a single structure.

【Journal Papers】Advanced Intelligent Systems
        The team, in collaboration with Prof. Jaehyung Ju's group at the University of Michigan - Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, and Prof. Ke Liu at Peking University, has published a paper in Advanced Intelligent Systems. The researchers utilized direct 4D printing of shape memory polymers to control and program tensorial anisotropic residual stress in origami panels. This novel approach allowed for printing panel deformation-driven origami structures with multi-modal deformations, enabling the morphing of non-Euclidean surfaces with large curvatures and high structural load capacity.

【Journal Papers】International Journal of Mechanical Sciences
        The study combines thick panel theory with kirigami techniques, enabling a tubular origami structure with multiple bifurcation paths to achieve reliable bifurcation control through a single actuator. This work can not only be applied to scenarios with multifunctional requirements such as reconfigurable antennas and morphing wings, but also opens up ways to reduce the control complexity of reconfigurable systems through mechanical intelligence.

        The team conducted a systematic study on the energy absorption characteristics of the kirigami-inspired pyramid foldcore sandwich structures under low-velocity impact loading, revealing an inertial enhanced deformation mechanism that differs from quasi-static loading. Through geometric gradient design, a multi-layer graded structure was achieved, which exhibits low initial peak stress and high energy absorption capability under impact loads, resulting in a significant performance improvement compared to traditional energy absorption structures.

         Team members Mengyue Li and Houhua Chen have published a paper in the International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, presenting a novel origami metamaterial designed to exhibit distinctly different folding modes and mechanical properties in three orthogonal directions. This metamaterial demonstrates unique mechanical responses in each direction and allows for multi-directional performance optimization and regulation through precise parameter adjustments. By developing an analytical model, the study provides an in-depth analysis of how design and folding parameters influence mechanical properties across various directions, offering robust tools for understanding and predicting material behavior under different loads.

      In collaboration with Senior Engineer Ming Li from the Aerospace Systems Engineering Shanghai, we conducted research on origami cubes and proposed a non-enumerative technique for arranging slits based on the equivalence between prismatic joints and slits, which has been successfully applied to the design of rigid and flat-foldable cubes. Additionally, a method of sealing slits with elastic membranes was introduced to construct bistable cubes, and customizable peak energy was achieved through parametric analysis.

【Journal Papers】Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
        Team member Mengyue Li has published an article in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, exploring the effects of different mountain-valley arrangements on the geometry and mechanical properties of double-corrugated origami metamaterials. By establishing an analytical model, the research successfully predicts and regulates mechanical performance, offering a fresh perspective on the programming of origami metamaterials and broadening their potential applications in energy absorption and adjustable stiffness structures.

【Journal Papers】Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics
        The study developed a straightforward algorithm that combines graphic representation and motion compatibility conditions to assess the reconfigurability of one-DOF origami structures with 4-crease vertices as well as their 2D and even 3D cellular tessellations. This research provides a strong theoretical foundation and technical support for the design of multifunctional structures based on mountain-valley crease reconfiguration.

        Despite the challenges on the road to innovation, our team has overcome obstacles with determination, creating unforgettable memories. In the Structures of Motion Laboratory, innovation thrives, with every idea finding the space to grow and every creative spark shining brightly.

Looking towards 2025

        The 'Five Blessings' summarize 2024 and inspire hope for 2025. In the new year, the Structures of Motion Laboratory will remain 'in motion' ，using passion and effort to achieve even more 'impossibilities'!

A Day in the Structures of Motion Laboratory

Closing Remarks
        We sincerely look forward to welcoming more passionate students to join the Structures of Motion Laboratory at Tianjin University. Whether you're an undergraduate or graduate, if you have a love for research and curiosity, our team offers a platform to showcase your talents and explore endless possibilities together!