South Korean researchers have achieved a revolutionary breakthrough that could power the humanoid robots of the future. It can lift 4,000 times its own weight and is both flexible and strong!
Scientists in South Korea have developed an artificial muscle that could be used in humanoid robots in the future. The most striking feature of this new muscle is its ability to be both flexible and stiff when needed. This is considered a first in artificial muscle research. The results of the study were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials on September 7.
Hoon Eui Jeong, lead author of the study and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), stated: “This research eliminates the fundamental limitation of traditional artificial muscles. This is because old systems were either very flexible but weak, or strong but stiff. The composite material we developed can offer both properties simultaneously. This paves the way for versatile soft robots, wearable devices, and intuitive human-machine interfaces.”
Artificial muscles often struggle to strike a balance between flexibility and durability (strength). For a muscle to generate sufficient energy, it must be stretchable while also being strong. This difficulty directly affects the work density, which is the amount of energy generated per unit volume. Scientists believe that soft artificial muscles have a transformative potential in the future, as these structures offer lightweight, versatile movement, and systems that are mechanically compatible with human tissues.
A New Era for Humanoid Robots
The researchers describe their developed artificial muscle as a “high-performance magnetic composite actuator.” This refers to a complex chemical structure composed of interconnected polymers to mimic the muscle’s pull-and-release movement.
One of these polymers can change its stiffness level and is contained within a matrix that houses magnetic microparticles on its surface. This allows the muscle’s stiffness to be adjusted and enables movement. The new design combines two different bonding mechanisms: a covalent-bonded chemical and a reversible physical interaction network.
This double-layer structure enables the muscle to operate durably for a long time. The balance between stiffness and flexibility is provided by this dual-bond architecture. Additionally, NdFeB microparticles, placed on the muscle’s surface, are functionalized via octadecyltrichlorosilane, a colorless liquid. These particles are distributed throughout the polymer matrix.
Power That Surpasses Human Muscle
The artificial muscle stiffens when carrying a heavy load and becomes soft (flexible) during contraction. Weighing only 1.13 grams, this muscle can lift a 5-kilogram load. That is 4,400 times its own weight.
While human muscle can contract by about 40 percent, this synthetic muscle achieves a stretch of 86.4 percent. This is more than twice that of human muscle. Furthermore, reaching a work density of 1,150 kilojoules per cubic meter, it exceeds the capacity of human tissue by 30 times. This technology, which offers flexibility and strength together, opens the door for machines to mimic human movement in a much more natural way.
You Might Also Like;
- We Selected 10 Series Similar to Stranger Things for Those Who Love It
- Where and How is Silver Used in Electric Vehicles?
- Hyundai Unveils Its Multi-Purpose Wheeled Robot
Follow us on TWITTER (X) and be instantly informed about the latest developments…
