SMRTR Science & EngineeringMay 11, 2026TechEBlog

Innovative Y-Zipper With Three Sides Just Solved a Decades-Old Puzzle in Robotics

SMRTR summary

MIT's CSAIL team revived a 1985 patent by Polaroid engineer Bill Freeman to create the Y-zipper — a three-sided fastener that transforms flexible plastic strips into a rigid triangular beam instantly. Applications include shape-shifting robot legs, quick-deploy tents, and adjustable medical casts, all reversible without tools.

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