Fig. 1.

Flat sealed inflatables. (A) Heat sealing of 2 sheets together along a desired path using an soldering iron mounted on a 2-directional plotter. (B) Photograph of an experimental realization of inflating an annulus of inner radius $R$ and width $w$, with $R/w\to 0$. Wrinkles appear, and 2 diametrically opposed kinks are observed. (C) For $R/w\gg 1$, the inflated structure buckles smoothly out of plane. Both structures are made of thermoplastic polyurethane-coated nylon fabric.