Light-Activated Shape Memory Composite

Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. (CRG) and the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) will develop light-activated composite materials technology. This development effort will enable the next generation of military vehicles to quickly and efficiently undergo dramatic reconfigurations as necessary to respond optimally to unpredictable warfare scenarios. Light-activated composite materials technology will provide significant enhancements over existing morphing materials approaches enabling higher performance capability for future morphing vehicle systems. The advanced functionality of these materials will include faster activation times, lower energy consumption, and bi-stable state performance. The primary light-activated material sought under this effort is light-activated shape memory polymer (LASMP). When applied as a direct replacement for thermally-activated shape memory polymers, LASMP will significantly reduce the time required for reconfiguration, reduce the overall energy consumption to switch and hold, and increase mechanical performance during shape change by allowing rapid on-off (digital) modulus switching at only discrete locations otherwise.