Programmable multistable structures via bioinspired, mechanically guided 4D printing.

A bioinspired, mechanically guided 4D printing method programs multistable structures whose accessible deformation modes transition from bending to folding, enabling bistable hinges.

• Why it matters: Multistable soft systems need rapid morphing and force amplification without standby power, but controlling which deformation modes are available remains difficult.
• What they did: The approach tunes stability landscapes by varying dimensionless geometric parameters, validated with buckling analysis, and integrates multiple octastable units into compact multistable devices.
• The result: Multiunit designs reach configuration spaces of over one billion and four sextillion stable states, supporting directional droplet routing, reconfigurable electrical switching, conforming grasping, and programmable mechanical displays.

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