Disney: Using 3D Printing To Create Impossible Spinning Tops

If you can make anything spin, what would it be? Researchers at Disney Research Zurich and ETH Zurich made an algorithm that turns a 3D model of almost any shape into a perfectly-balanced spinning top.

By inputting any 3D model and the spinning axis of choice, Disney's algorithm can calculate the object's distribution of mass according to the center of gravity. This allows it to decide what sections of the model’s internals need to be lighter (hollowed) or heavier (materal)  to distribute its weight for optimal balance. Applications can range from controlling the stability of gears in motors to creating self-balancing robots. They published their results here.

We also recommend watching: "Cubli: The Balancing Gyro Cube that Defies Gravity" and "Paper Generators: Disney's Energy Harvest from Touch".

Disney: Using 3D Printing To Create Impossible Spinning Tops

Walt Disney Research is an informal collaboration of the Walt Disney Company with various labs including Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zurich), under a five year commitment. The labs include computer animation, computational cinematography, autonomous interactive characters, robotics and user interfaces and others in its R & D efforts.