With the introduction to new conductive inks and toners, printing circuits onto unconventional materials is now possible. This project involves printing electromagnetic coils onto both sides of a paper substrate. With a simple hole punch the coil circuits can be connected in series with conductive ink, glue or foil.
The direction of the coils (left hand and right hand) are configured to cumulate the field for coils aligning front side and back side. However, each set repels the next set which are folded in a zig-zag pattern resulting
in a expansion or contraction (depending on electrical polarity).
This arrangement is very simple, low cost, bio-degradeable, and light weight.
Additional articulation can be accomplished by printing coils strategically
on the substrate and energizing independently with a microcontroller.
Submitted by James Scott, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
http://www.createthefuturecontest.com