Kaleidocycle

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The Kaleidocycle: A Game-Changer in Compliant Mechanisms Compliant mechanisms stand out for one remarkable feature - the ability to rotate continuously without interruption. Most compliant mechanisms flex back and forth over a specific range, but their flexibility is limited. The kaleidocycle defies this norm with its flexible members moving 240 degrees in each direction, yet its unique arrangement allows it to continuously rotate. This continuous rotation capability was previously thought to be exclusive to traditional mechanisms like bearings or bushings. The kaleidocycle's ability to continuously rotate stems from the way its flexible members interact with one another. Each flexure offers some resistance, resulting in complex multistable behavior that depends on the relative stiffness of different joints. This leads to a variety of stable states, including monostable, bistable, tristable, and quadstable behaviors. By crafting kaleidocycles from conductive materials or ensuring an unbroken circuit through their material composition, researchers have discovered a new application - conducting electricity across all joints. This breakthrough creates a continuously rotatable conductor with vast potential for innovative applications.