Researchers at a robotics lab in Electrical & Systems Engineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania have designed a system of origami mechanisms that they call “Kinegami” – kinematic origami, to build robots and other devices that move.

They have built on a number of existing origami techniques to design complete robot arms that bend, twist and even have springs.

Check out their video to see how the robots are designed, made and even watch one robot shoot basketball.

If you want to see their techniques in detail the full academic paper is available online along with the source files of the code used.