After a 40-year wait, technology finally enables three-sided zipper design

Key Points:

• In 1985, William Freeman Ph.D. invented a three-sided zipper designed to switch objects like chairs and tents between soft and rigid states, but his idea was initially rejected and stored away.
• Nearly 40 years later, MIT CSAIL researchers revived Freeman's concept, developing an automated design tool and adaptable "Y-zipper" fastener that can be 3D printed and customized for various applications including camping gear, medical devices, and robotics.
• The Y-zipper enables rapid transformation of objects from flexible to rigid, significantly speeding up tasks like tent assembly and allowing adjustable wearables such as wrist casts that enhance comfort and functionality.
• Durability tests showed the Y-zipper withstands extensive use, with materials like PLA and TPU offering different strengths, and future improvements may include stronger materials like metal and larger-scale designs.
• The technology holds promise for diverse fields including robotics, dynamic art installations, disaster relief shelters, and potentially space exploration, as presented at the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.