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Robert J. Lang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about an origami artist named Robert Lang. For others, see Robert Lang.
Dr. Robert J. Lang (born 1961) is an American scientist who is also one of the foremost origami artists and theorists in the world. He is known for his complex and elegant designs, most notably of animals. He has long been a student of the mathematics of origami and of using computers to study the theories behind origami. He has made great advances in making real-world applications of origami to engineering problems.
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Among Lang's numerous origami models is his Black Forest Cuckoo Clock, whose folding instructions were released in 2003. This model has over 200 steps, and features pine cone clock-weights, a stag's head, decorative leaves, and folded clock hands. Lang helped design the folding pattern for a massive space telescope lens.
Lang was born in Ohio.[1] He has been interested in folding paper since he was 6 years old[2], growing up in Atlanta, Georgia[1]. He received a Ph.D. in Applied Physics[3] from the California Institute of Technology. Lang had a long career as a laser physicist and engineer, with a background in NASA.
Lang specializes in finding real-world applications for the various theories of origami he has developed. These included designing folding patterns for a German airbag manufacturer.[3] He has worked with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, where a team is developing a powerful space telescope, with a 100 m (328 ft) lens in the form of a thin membrane. Lang was hired by the team to develop a way to fit the tremendous lens, known as the Eyeglass, into a small rocket in such a way that the lens can be unfolded in space and will not suffer from any permanent marks or creases.[3]
In 2002, Lang moved from being an engineer to being a full-time origami artist and consultant.
Lang has authored and co-authored over 80 publications on semiconductor lasers, optics, and integrated optoelectronics. He holds 46 patents in these fields. He has written and co-written eight books.
He resides in Alamo, California.[1]
- The Complete Book of Origami; Dover Publications, 1988
- Origami Zoo (with Stephen Weiss); St. Martin's Press, 1989
- Origami Sea Life (with John Montroll); Dover Publications, 1990
- Origami Animals; Crescent, 1992; out of print
- Origami Insects and their Kin; Dover Publications, 1995
- Origami in Action; St. Martin's Press, 1996
- Origami Insects II; Gallery Origami House, 2003
- Origami Design Secrets; AK Peters, Ltd., 2003
- ^ a b c Profile at LangOrigami.com, his official website
- ^ Radio interview at The Connection
- ^ a b c Radio interview from This Week in Science, July 26, 2005