The field of micromechanics is an established engineering domain with demonstrated impact on science, technology, and product development. At the core of this technology are movable mechanical structures, MEMS, with dimensions ranging from a few to 100’s microns, and rigid components that rely on external links for power supply and control. Removing these constraints would enable a new technology platform for responsive systems that can self-morph into different shapes, deploy, gather energy from the local environment, and self-propel. These shape morphing systems create a new paradigm in engineering where the distinction between materials and mechanisms gets vague. In this presentation, I will discuss the prospect of creating shape morphing micromachines by the integration of atomically thin electronics, flat optics, and nanomechanical devices.
