Abstract: Collapsible structures may be formed from planar solids. The structures may be comprised of multiple planar objects hingedly connected, where each planar object may include magnetic materials (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic metals) or electromagnetic materials. Using the magnetic or electromagnetic materials, the connected planar objects may be arranged as a single planar object with multiple layers, or may be arranged as a three-dimensional (3-D) object, where the magnetic or electromagnetic materials may be used to retain the formed 3-D object shape. Application of a current to the electromagnetic materials may cause the collapsible structure to form the 3-D object, and removal of the electric current may cause the collapsible structure to revert to a single planar object. Multiple structures may be combined to form larger structures.

Abstract: A curvilinear tetrahedral enhanced building block may be formed. The block may include sigmoid or reverse sigmoid curve edges, and may include curved vertices. The shape various planes or vertices of the block may be selected or adjusted to exert a force against a surrounding viscous medium. The block may include a conductive element configured to generate an electrostatic field, and may include a magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic field. The block may be configured to conduct electricity to a surrounding dielectric fluid, and the block's generation of a magnetic field may induce magnetohydrodynamic motion within the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: A curvilinear tetrahedral enhanced building block may be formed. The block may include sigmoid or reverse sigmoid curve edges, and may include curved vertices. The shape various planes or vertices of the block may be selected or adjusted to exert a force against a surrounding viscous medium. The block may include a conductive element configured to generate an electrostatic field, and may include a magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic field. The block may be configured to conduct electricity to a surrounding dielectric fluid, and the block's generation of a magnetic field may induce magnetohydrodynamic motion within the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: Collapsible structures may be formed from planar solids. The structures may be comprised of multiple planar objects hingedly connected, where each planar object may include magnetic materials (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic metals) or electromagnetic materials. Using the magnetic or electromagnetic materials, the connected planar objects may be arranged as a single planar object with multiple layers, or may be arranged as a three-dimensional (3-D) object, where the magnetic or electromagnetic materials may be used to retain the formed 3-D object shape. Application of a current to the electromagnetic materials may cause the collapsible structure to form the 3-D object, and removal of the electric current may cause the collapsible structure to revert to a single planar object. Multiple structures may be combined to form larger structures.

Abstract: Collapsible structures may be formed from planar solids. The structures may be comprised of multiple planar objects hingedly connected, where each planar object may include magnetic materials (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic metals) or electromagnetic materials. Using the magnetic or electromagnetic materials, the connected planar objects may be arranged as a single planar object with multiple layers, or may be arranged as a three-dimensional (3-D) object, where the magnetic or electromagnetic materials may be used to retain the formed 3-D object shape. Application of a current to the electromagnetic materials may cause the collapsible structure to form the 3-D object, and removal of the electric current may cause the collapsible structure to revert to a single planar object. Multiple structures may be combined to form larger structures.

Abstract: A curvilinear tetrahedral enhanced building block may be formed. The block may include sigmoid or reverse sigmoid curve edges, and may include curved vertices. The shape various planes or vertices of the block may be selected or adjusted to exert a force against a surrounding viscous medium. The block may include a conductive element configured to generate an electrostatic field, and may include a magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic field. The block may be configured to conduct electricity to a surrounding dielectric fluid, and the block's generation of a magnetic field may induce magnetohydrodynamic motion within the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: Enhanced building blocks may be shaped as platonic solids. The building blocks include a flange on one or more edges, where each flange and each compressed tetrahedral vertex may include magnetic materials (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic metals). The building block flanges may be used to capture kinetic energy from a fluid. Multiple building blocks may be combined to form larger structures, and the included magnetic materials may be used to retain the formed geometric structure shape.

Abstract: All-shape building blocks may be shaped as platonic solids. All-Shape building blocks may be modified to include a flange on each tetrahedron edge, where each flange and each tetrahedron vertex may include magnetic materials (e.g., magnets, ferromagnetic metals). All-Shape building blocks may be combined to form or provide an optical appearance of various geometric structures, and the included magnetic materials may be used to retain the formed geometric structure shape.