Part 7/11:
A key insight involves the difference between single-way and two-way Nitinol wires.
Single-way wires only remember one shape—either contracted or relaxed.
Two-way wires can switch between two shapes upon heating and cooling cycles, enabling more efficient repeated motion.
Paul emphasizes that two-way shape memory alloys could potentially create a self-sustaining cycle, where electrical heating (such as from a solar-powered resistor or electrical current) could continually cycle the wire between states, possibly overcoming some of the timing and heat dissipation challenges.