What if "some assembly required" meant that the product would self-assemble when you take it out of the box.

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has created the Self-Assembly Lab to research self-assembly and programmable material technologies. In this cross-disciplinary research laboratory engineers are re-imagining construction, product assembly, manufacturing, and performance.

# Underground Pipes That Change Shape

Imagine underground water pipes that can change shape to help move water.

<center> https://public-media.smithsonianmag.com/filer/6f/ab/6fab4082-e6d2-445b-9935-a44026009fe2/4d_printing.jpg
[Image Source](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/Objects-That-Change-Shape-On-Their-Own-180951449/) </center>


# The Emergence of "4D Printing"

Skylar Tibbits, one of the researchers at MIT, demonstrated the concept of 4D printing at a TED talk.

8 minute video published on 4 April 2013 at [TED](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUUnT6oDeKwE6v1NGQxug)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gMCZFHv9v8


# Sources and Full Articles

[Self-Assembly Lab](http://www.selfassemblylab.net/), MIT

[Forget the 3D Printer: 4D Printing Could Change Everything](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/Objects-That-Change-Shape-On-Their-Own-180951449/), Smithsonian.com, 16 May 2014


# Thank You!


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