BMW and MIT create the world’s first 3D printed inflatable material
Being able to 3D print materials with different and unique properties opens up a whole new range of use cases and applications, from car design to implanted medical devices, to soft robots and beyond.
Key takeaways
- A two year collaboration between BMW and MIT has produced the world’s first 3D printed inflatable material that can change its shape and stiffness on command.
- According to the researchers, the sample inflatable objects can be customized to any size or shape by manipulating air pressure in any one of their seven independent chambers.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2018) 'BMW and MIT create the world’s first 3D printed inflatable material', 311 Institute, 15 June. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/bmw-mit-create-first-3d-printed-inflatable-material/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
A two year collaboration between BMW and MIT has produced the world’s first 3D printed inflatable material that can change its shape and stiffness on command. Consequently, it could be used in designing highly customizable and multifunctional interiors, for example, for self-driving concept cars like Audi’s Long Distance Lounge (LDL) or Toyota’s e-Palette concepts, as well as implanted medical devices and a million things besides.
Anyway, back to cars, since, after all this is BMW’s gig… If the car of the future really is autonomous, and it’s looking highly likely, then we may be about to witness a radical shift in the form and function of their interiors. Without the need for dashboards, front facing seats, pedals or steering wheels, we’re going to be left with nothing more than an empty space that needs filling with stuff. Whatever stuff we like. So as a result we could be heading toward seats and compartments that morph into different shapes to meet different needs at the touch of a button. And even these cars wheels could be different in the future as Goodyear recently pointed out with their revolutionary new spherical designs…
See the material in action
We’re talking, almost, about the complete reinvention of the car, which is why I firmly believe we’re actually witnessing the death of the car as we know it. And the new 3D printed inflatable material might just be the ticket for all these new fancy interiors. The material, which was created using a combination of techniques, including Rapid Liquid Printing and soft robotics, is made up of objects akin to printable balloons that can change their shape and stiffness in a matter of seconds.
Building inflatable materials of this kind would have previously required complex electromechanical devices or advanced moulding techniques, but these "liquid-printed pneumatics" can be manufactured by simple 3D printing in nothing more than silicone.
According to the researchers, the sample inflatable objects can be customized to any size or shape by manipulating air pressure in any one of their seven independent chambers.
"There is no need to lock the car of the future into any particular shape. Interiors could even take on malleable, modular uses," says Martina Starke, head of BMW Brand Vision, "this adaptive material technology points towards a future of transformable surfaces for adaptive human comfort, cushioning and impact performance."
The material is on display at the exhibition The Future Starts Here in London.
Source: BMW
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Being able to 3D print materials with different and unique properties opens up a whole new range of use cases and applications, from car design to implanted medical devices, to soft robots and beyond.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 June 2018. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2018). BMW and MIT create the world’s first 3D printed inflatable material. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/bmw-mit-create-first-3d-printed-inflatable-material/
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