This came up in my Google Alert for bobbin lace. I was too tired to tackle it yesterday, but I'm going to try to grasp it later!

Since it used a Rauma pillow, I pinged Tarmo Thorström and he says he knows one of the authors who is a legit lacemaker (Maija Vaara). 

Active textiles move in confined areas

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aee7156

It's over my head on some of the approach but I'm also kind of intrigued...