The holiday season is upon us and we’re in full festive swing here at NMITE HQ. In true NMITE spirit we’ve been putting a fun spin on engineering education by making festive origami windmills to hang on our Christmas tree.
Read on to find out more about origami applications in engineering and download our simple instructions to make your own decorative ornament.
Origami and engineering
Origami has its roots in Japanese culture as a traditional art of paper folding. The challenge is to use intricate folding and sculpting techniques to transform a sheet of paper into a beautiful 3D model, without using any adhesives or cutting tools[1].
The principles of origami have wide applications within engineering and have inspired several technological advancements. Think about it: when you fold something, you make it more compact and rigid, and you can create hinges and pockets. A large, three-dimensional object can be packed down in to a small, flat package and then redeployed. NASA’s Starshade Project is a particularly impressive example of this, but more down-to-earth examples include microscopic surgical tools, airbags, and – for you campers out there - pop-up tents.
Power from the Wind
Windmills generate electricity using power from the wind, making them a valuable renewable energy resource. Wind power is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy technologies in the world, and indeed one of the largest sources of green electricity in the UK. Many believe that harnessing this power could play an important part in decarbonising our economy and tackling climate change.[2]
While our origami windmills aren’t quite as advanced as a giant planet-revealing sunshade, and they won’t power our Christmas tree lights, they do make attractive ornaments and are easy to make.
Download our simple instructions to make your own origami windmill.
All you need is a 15 x 15xm piece of origami or regular patterned paper, a pin or sticker to hold it together, and a piece of string to hang it to your tree.
We’d love to see your festive creations so please share your photos on social media, tagging @nmice_ac #bepartofit
Merry Christmas from NMITE!
Before you go...will you give the gift of a transformative education this Christmas?
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