Researchers at ETH Zurich, led by Professor Dennis Kochmann, have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the design process of metamaterials, opening doors to enhanced safety gear and a myriad of applications. Metamaterials, known for their unique properties, are now poised to impact bike helmets, running shoes, and even medical implants.Traditionally, designing metamaterials involved a time-consuming, trial-and-error process based on intuition. Kochmann's team, pioneers in small-scale cellular structures, utilized AI to predict metamaterials with extraordinary properties in a rapid and automated manner. Particularly notable is their ability to design for large, non-linear loads, crucial in scenarios like impact absorption by bike helmets.

The researchers' framework employs AI to explore design possibilities efficiently, overcoming the challenges of manual, experience-based design. By using large datasets of real structures' deformation behavior, the AI model learns essential features and optimizes structures for desired properties, essentially creating a metamaterial blueprint at the researchers' command.Li Zheng, a doctoral student in Kochmann's group, trained the AI using a vast dataset, drawing an analogy to arranging Lego bricks. The AI, equipped with design principles learned from the dataset, efficiently assembles building blocks of metamaterials, achieving specific softness or hardness as required. Unlike previous approaches, this method grants the AI the freedom to manipulate building blocks almost arbitrarily.

In another approach, Jan-Hendrik Bastek employed AI-based video generation techniques. By providing the AI with video sequences of deforming 3D-printable structures, Bastek's system generates realistic videos of optimal structures and their complete deformation responses. This innovative approach allows for a more accurate understanding of complex scenarios, providing blueprints for new materials.

The researchers have generously shared their AI tools with the metamaterials community, paving the way for the creation of novel materials. The applications span from protective gear, like advanced bicycle helmets, to the improvement of shoe soles that absorb shocks or provide a forward boost. While AI is poised to play a significant role in material design, Kochmann emphasizes that it should serve as a diligent assistant, requiring proper instructions and training grounded in scientific principles and engineering know-how.This groundbreaking research not only accelerates the design process but also unleashes unprecedented creativity, offering a glimpse into a future where AI-driven metamaterials revolutionize safety and performance across various domains.