Unified Origami Kinematics via Cosheaf Homology

Abstract

We establish a novel local-global framework for analyzing rigid origami mechanics through cosheaf homology, proving the equivalence of truss and hinge constraint systems via an induced linear isomorphism. This approach applies to origami surfaces of various topologies, including sheets, spheres, and tori. By leveraging connecting homomorphisms from homological algebra, we link angular and spatial velocities in a novel way. Unlike traditional methods that simplify complex closed-chain systems to re-constrained tree topologies, our homological techniques enable simultaneous analysis of the entire system. This unified framework opens new avenues for homological algorithms and optimization strategies in robotic origami and beyond.