From stadium covers to solar sails, we rely on deployability for the design of large-scale structures that can quickly compress to a fraction of their size^1,2,3,4. Historically, two main strategies have been used to design deployable systems. The first and most frequently used approach involves mechanisms comprising interconnected bar elements, which can synchronously expand and retract^5,6,7, occasionally locking in place through bistable elements^8,9. The second strategy makes use of inflatable membranes that morph into target shapes by means of a single pressure input^10,11,12. Neither strategy, however, can be readily used to provide an enclosed domain that is able to lock in place after deployment: the integration of a protective covering in linkage-based constructions is challenging and pneumatic systems require a constant applied pressure to keep their expanded shape^13,14,15. Here we draw inspiration from origami—the Japanese art of paper folding—to design rigid-walled deployable structures that are multistable and inflatable. Guided by geometric analyses and experiments, we create a library of bistable origami shapes that can be deployed through a single fluidic pressure input. We then combine these units to build functional structures at the metre scale, such as arches and emergency shelters, providing a direct route for building large-scale inflatable systems that lock in place after deployment and offer a robust enclosure through their stiff faces.

从体育场盖到太阳帆，我们依靠可部署性来设计大型结构，这些结构可以快速压缩到其尺寸^1,2,3,4的一小部分。从历史上看，有两种主要策略用于设计可部署系统。第一种也是最常用的方法涉及由相互连接的杆元件组成的机构，它们可以同步扩展和缩回^5,6,7，偶尔通过双稳态元件锁定到位^8,9。第二种策略利用充气膜，通过单一压力输入^{10、11、12变形为目标形状}. 然而，这两种策略都不能很容易地用于提供能够在部署后锁定到位的封闭区域：在基于连杆的结构中集成保护性覆盖物具有挑战性，并且气动系统需要恒定的施加压力以保持其膨胀形状^13,14,15. 在这里，我们从折纸（日本的折纸艺术）中汲取灵感，设计出具有多稳定性和可充气的刚性壁可展开结构。在几何分析和实验的指导下，我们创建了一个双稳态折纸形状库，可以通过单个流体压力输入进行部署。然后，我们将这些单元组合起来以构建米级的功能结构，例如拱门和应急避难所，为构建大型充气系统提供直接途径，这些系统在部署后锁定到位，并通过其坚硬的表面提供坚固的外壳。