Möbius Kaleidocycles embody a solution to a problem of the geometry of motion: Is it possible make a closed loop from seven or more identical rigid links that is mobile only to the extent that it can turn inside out continuously and smoothly? That a closed loop of six identical rigid links allows such a motion has been known for upwards of a hundred years. OIST researchers recently showed that this is also possible with seven or more links, leading to a patent application and a publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Those links must, however, obey a strict design criterion that depends on the number of links, as can be noticed by comparing the angle between the hinges of the models with seven and nine links.
A such, Möbius Kaleidocycles are more than just promotional gifts. They are tangible manifestations of innovation and original research done at OIST.
If you have one paper kaleidocycle, see the video below for help putting it together.