Foldable Origami Microwave Waveguides Unveiled

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January 29, 2026 News 9325

Origami-inspired electromagnetic waveguides demonstrate foldable and reconfigurable microwave transmission

In platforms with stringent internal space constraints, such as spacecraft and naval vessels, traditional metal microwave waveguides are like fixed-dimension "hard pipes," making storage and reconfiguration difficult. Now, researchers have drawn inspiration from the art of origami to develop foldable and transformable electromagnetic waveguides.

This new type of waveguide utilizes a special crease design, allowing it to save significant space when folded and compressed (one design, for example, shortens by 72%) and return to full size for operation when deployed. It can not only fold axially like a shopping bag but also bend and twist like an accordion, enabling switching between various common microwave paths such as straight sections, E-bends, and H-bends.

Crucially, during deformation, its microwave transmission loss is very close to that of a rigid waveguide of equivalent size (experimentally measured average loss is below 0.083 dB per inch), and its performance fully meets practical system requirements. This means the "internal wiring" of future satellite antennas, reconfigurable radars, and other devices can be stored and deployed as flexibly as origami—folded compactly during launch and then precisely deployed after entering orbit.

The research team used paper and aluminum foil to create proof-of-concept models and pointed out that future adoption of precision manufacturing processes like 3D printing to fabricate conductive structures could further enhance performance. This breakthrough opens up entirely new design possibilities for microwave systems in aerospace and other fields that require efficient storage and dynamic reconfiguration.