MIT researchers reported developing 3D-printed modular building blocks, called "bifur-circuits," that can be assembled into shape-changing structures while maintaining electrical connections between units. In a study published Aug. 27, 2026, the team said this electrical modularity lets structures sense their own configuration without external wires. The blocks are a type of mechanical metamaterial that uses mechanical bifurcation, in which a mechanism's behavior changes sharply once force passes a tipping point, to enable many configurations.

The researchers demonstrated interactive objects including a chair that converts to a table with storage and can flatten for stowing, sensing its shape and sending messages to an electronic display, and a shape-shifting controller that selects among video games. They reported testing durability by compressing structures more than 10,000 times, with no degradation in electrical connectivity. Lead author Marwa AlAlawi said bifurcation greatly expands the number of possible combinations from the same structure.

Potential future uses cited include rehabilitation tools, shape-changing grippers for modular soft robots, reconfigurable shelters and antennas that adjust frequency. The paper's co-senior authors are Ticha Sethapakdi and Stefanie Mueller, with co-authors from MIT, the University of Tokyo and the University of Michigan; the work was to be presented at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology. Funding included Japan's Science and Technology Agency and the Bahrain Crown Prince International Scholarship Program.