It took 40 years for technology to catch up to this zipper design
Summary
MIT CSAIL researchers revived a 1985 concept to create the Y-zipper, a three-sided fastener that can switch between flexible and rigid states using 3D-printed components. The project includes an automated design tool, material testing (PLA vs TPU), and demonstrations across applications from wearables to adaptable robotics, with implications for rapid assembly in challenging environments.