Technology
Compliant Mechanisms in Microelectromechanical Systems Design
Quick fact
Some MEMS devices, like digital micro-mirror chips used in projectors, contain over a million tiny mirrors that pivot on microscopic flexure hinges—and they can switch on and off over a thousand times per second.
Why this is interesting
You've probably seen microscopic machines in movies, but did you know that inside your smartphone there are tiny accelerometers that sense motion—and they have no hinges, no bearings, and no sliding parts? They move using flexible beams that bend like a diving board.