Off-topic but maybe an interesting side comment: nature has also some very interesting structures that change with pressure. Pores in plants open and close by changing the turgor (pressure inside a cell) inside the cells lining the opening for example:

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoma#Opening_and_closing

And differential pressure make flowers open and close !

This reminds me of these crazy load bearing straw catenary [0] arch [1] buildings [2].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary_arch

[2] http://web.archive.org/web/20150331150513/http://ecobouwers....

I have nothing constructive to add but there's definitely a crude/childish joke available with regards that title. It's really the only reason I stopped to look at the paper, which turned out quite interesting.

The way in which they use each cushion as a separate cell to create structure is reminiscent of plants which get their rigidity from the osmotic pressure that pushes against the cell wall, also known as "turgescence".

I've surprisingly realised that I need to grow up, when I giggled at the title.

Don't. Growing up is overrated. As the old saying goes: growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional :-)

I know what you mean -- the word pneumatic cracks me up every time! ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuSDdJIcmHU&ab_channel=Natha...

Sometimes, despite ourselves, we have to endeavor to maintain a stiff upper lip.

If I'm reading you correct, that'd be hydraulic rather than pneumatic.

It may be a bit of a stretch, but a certain International Man of Mystery might disagree.

Well...I have another interesting idea based on peristaltic locomotion of a robot bio inspired by earthworms. Hard pass?

It's more than an idea...

https://www.federalfabrics.com/

Clever!

This seems like the sort of thing which could be adapted for amateur/DIY use.

It seems like you just need some hardware, which could be manufactured cheaply and easily, air-tight fabric, and a way of joining those.

I get the industrial / military / etc. uses, but I find the concept of anyone being able to build a temporary, usable structure in a custom configuration for a few hundred bucks a lot more interesting.

Still air is also a pretty good insulator, so if this were enclosed, it'd be a pretty good shelter even in colder climates.

It’s a smaller scale (and a different structure) but I recently bought a Vango Project Hydrogen tent which uses a single “air beam” as its main structure instead of poles. Actually there is still 1 small pole involved but it’s not part of the main structure.

That’s done to save weight whilst being more resistant to being deformed by the wind.

I wonder if that could be taken further with these small cushions to provide insulation as well as structure as you suggest?

I have this idea for self erecting moveable structures made of ETFE.

I guess nature proved a great inspiration again

There are tents that use similar concepts such as this insulated one:

https://www.cruaoutdoors.com/products/crua-cocoon-two-person...

Make Nightmare Men in Blender - Lazy Tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfJIZEDY44&ab_channel=IanHu...

bouncy houses have been doing this for years... in other news some have concrete in them to make them more permanent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPPAXH1DlwA