On Unfolding Lattice Polygons/Trees and Diameter-4 Trees

We consider the problems of straightening polygonal trees and convexifying polygons by continuous motions such that rigid edges can rotate around vertex joints and no edge crossings are allowed. A tree can be straightened if all its edges can be aligned along a common straight line such that each edge points “away” from a designated leaf node. A polygon can be convexified if it can be reconfigured to a convex polygon. A lattice tree (resp. polygon) is a tree (resp. polygon) containing only edges from a square or cubic lattice. We first show that a 2D lattice chain or a 3D lattice tree can be straightened efficiently in O(n) moves and time, where n is the number of tree edges. We then show that a 2D lattice tree can be straightened efficiently in O(n) moves and time. Furthermore, we prove that a 2D lattice polygon or a 3D lattice polygon with simple shadow can be convexified efficiently in O(n) moves and time. Finally, we show that two special classes of diameter-4 trees in two dimensions can always be straightened.