Articles tagged with "artificial-muscles"
Insect-like flying bot completes rapid somersaults and sharp turns
MIT researchers have developed a miniature aerial robot inspired by insect flight that demonstrates unprecedented speed, agility, and maneuverability. Roughly the size of a microcassette and lighter than a paperclip, the robot uses soft artificial muscles to power large flapping wings at high frequency, enabling rapid acceleration, tight turns, and complex aerial stunts such as somersaults. This marks a significant advancement over earlier insect-scale robots, which were limited to slow, predictable flight paths. The new design aims to enable these tiny flying machines to navigate confined or hazardous environments, such as collapsed buildings after earthquakes, where larger drones cannot operate. A key innovation behind the robot’s enhanced performance is a novel AI-based control system developed by MIT professors Kevin Chen and Jonathan How. This two-part system combines a model-predictive controller that plans complex flight trajectories with a lightweight deep-learning model trained via imitation learning to execute those plans in real time. This approach allows the robot to fly 447% faster and accelerate 255
robotmicrorobotaerial-roboticsartificial-musclesAI-controllerbioinspired-roboticsmicro-roboticsHow China’s hyper-realistic humanoid robot achieved its eerily human walk
XPENG’s hyper-realistic humanoid robot IRON gained widespread attention for its fluid, lifelike walking and gestures, prompting skepticism that it might be a person in a suit. To dispel doubts, an engineer publicly cut away part of its synthetic skin, revealing a metal frame and internal bionic components. Unlike other humanoid robots focused on strength or speed, IRON is designed with a “born-from-within” philosophy that replicates human anatomy through a bionic spine, artificial muscles, and soft synthetic skin. This approach emphasizes humanlike movement and appearance to create a robot that feels approachable and emotionally warm, rather than cold or mechanical. XPENG’s design philosophy centers on human-centric customization, offering potential buyers options for body types, gendered forms, and clothing, aiming to make the robot feel more personal and relatable. By carefully addressing the “uncanny valley” effect—where robots appear almost but not quite human and thus provoke discomfort—IRON uses familiar human proportions, flexible skin,
robothumanoid-robotXPENGartificial-musclessynthetic-skinbionic-spinehuman-like-movementVideo: Clone demos creepy humanoid hand with human-level grip strength and speed
Polish robotics company Clone Robotics has demonstrated a highly advanced anthropomorphic robotic hand controlled by their new Neural Joint V2 Controller. The hand features 27 degrees of freedom and achieves human-level grip strength and speed, closely mirroring natural finger movements with minimal latency. Unlike earlier versions that used hardcoded controls, the V2 Controller employs a neural network trained on extensive human hand motion data, enabling it to interpret and replicate complex, fast, and unpredictable movements in real time. The hand’s design incorporates carbon-fiber bones and ligament-style tethers with synthetic water-powered artificial muscles called Myofibers, which generate up to 1 kilogram of grip force and have demonstrated exceptional durability through 650,000 test cycles without fatigue. This robotic hand is a critical component of Clone Robotics’ broader Clone Alpha project, which aims to create a biomimetic humanoid robot with natural human-like motion. The Alpha robot integrates a polymer skeleton, Myofiber muscles, and a compact hydraulic vascular system to replicate human
roboticshumanoid-robotrobotic-handneural-network-controlartificial-musclesanthropomorphic-roboticselectro-hydraulic-actuatorsAI-powered muscles made from lifelike materials perform safe actions
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed AI-powered artificial muscles made from lifelike, hierarchically structured flexible fibers that mimic human muscle and tendon. These soft, responsive muscles are paired with intelligent control systems that enable them to sense, adapt, and "remember" previous movements, allowing for real-time adjustment of force and flexibility. Unlike traditional rigid robots, these artificial muscles aim to produce natural, smooth, and safe motions, making them particularly suitable for applications such as stroke recovery or prosthetics, where rebuilding strength and confidence is crucial. The research, published in Materials Horizon, highlights advancements in functional materials, structural design, and manufacturing techniques that enable these muscles to execute pre-programmed movements and respond dynamically to environmental changes through sensory feedback. The team emphasizes the importance of adaptability and biocompatibility, ensuring the materials can integrate safely with the human body without triggering immune responses. Challenges remain in scalability and dynamic reprogramming, but the work represents a significant step toward prosthetics and assistive devices
robotartificial-musclesflexible-materialsAI-powered-roboticssmart-materialsadaptive-roboticsbiomedical-engineeringA flexible lens controlled by light-activated artificial muscles promises to let soft machines see - Robohub
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a flexible, adaptive lens inspired by the human eye, designed to provide vision capabilities for soft robots and biomedical devices. This photo-responsive hydrogel soft lens (PHySL) uses light-activated, water-based polymer “muscles” to change its shape and focal length without mechanical parts or electronics. Unlike traditional camera lenses that rely on bulky, rigid components, the PHySL mimics the eye’s ciliary muscles by contracting in response to light, enabling precise, contactless control of focus and intensity. Its soft, compliant structure enhances durability and safety, particularly for applications involving close contact with the human body. This innovation addresses challenges in soft robotics and biomedical tools, where flexible, low-power, and autonomous systems are crucial. Soft robots, made from compliant materials, benefit from adaptable vision systems that can withstand deformation and operate without complex electronics. The PHySL’s electronics-free design contrasts with existing soft lens technologies that often require liquid-filled actuators or electronic
robotsoft-roboticsartificial-muscleshydrogel-materialsadaptive-lensbiomedical-engineeringsoft-materialsLiquid crystal elastomers give soft robotics 2,000x lifting power
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new type of artificial muscle for soft robotics by integrating liquid crystals (LCs) into liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), a rubber-like material that changes shape with heat. This innovation results in soft robotic muscles that are nine times stronger and more flexible than previous versions, capable of lifting loads up to 2,000 times their own weight and delivering work output nearly three times that of average mammalian muscle. The enhanced strength and stiffness arise from microscopic LC pockets dispersed within the elastomer, which provide solid-like resistance to stretching while maintaining overall flexibility. This breakthrough addresses a key limitation in soft robotics, where traditional materials often lack the strength and durability needed for powerful, precise movements. The new LCE-based muscles enable robots to move more naturally and safely, expanding potential applications in minimally invasive surgery, drug delivery, delicate electronics assembly, and human-assistive manufacturing. The research team plans to advance this technology by developing 3D-printable inks from
soft-roboticsliquid-crystal-elastomersartificial-musclessmart-materialsflexible-roboticsrobotic-actuatorsadvanced-materialsTiny robot muscle lifts 4,000 times its weight in lab breakthrough
Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have developed a novel artificial muscle that can transition between soft and flexible to rigid and strong states, overcoming a major limitation in soft robotics. This tiny muscle, weighing just 1.25 grams, can stiffen under heavy loads to provide structural support and then soften to allow contraction and flexibility. Its core innovation lies in a dual cross-linked polymer network combining covalent bonds for strength and thermally responsive physical interactions for flexibility, along with embedded surface-treated magnetic microparticles that enable precise control via external magnetic fields. The artificial muscle can lift up to 5 kilograms—about 4,000 times its own weight—and stretch up to 12 times its original length when softened. It achieves an exceptional strain of 86.4% during contraction, more than double that of human muscles, and a work density of 1,150 kJ/m³, which is 30 times higher than human tissue. This
roboticsartificial-musclessoft-roboticsmaterials-sciencepolymer-networksmagnetic-actuationwearable-devicesTechnology behind ghostly water-powered humanoid robot revealed
Clone Robotics, a Polish startup founded in 2021, is pioneering lifelike humanoid robots powered by innovative synthetic muscle technology. Unlike traditional rigid, motor-driven robots, Clone’s androids use water-powered fluidic muscles based on the McKibben design—pressurized tubes that contract like human muscles when filled with fluid. This hydraulic system, driven by a compact pump dubbed the “hydraulic heart,” enables natural, versatile movements by mimicking human musculoskeletal structures such as tendons and ligaments. The company began by developing a robotic hand with high degrees of freedom, then expanded to a full-body prototype within a year, leveraging anatomical layouts to simplify design. In February 2025, Clone Robotics unveiled Protoclone V1, a synthetic human prototype featuring over 200 degrees of freedom, 1,000 artificial muscle fibers (Myofibers), and 500 sensors, closely replicating human anatomy. Later that year, they launched their first full-scale humanoid robot and are
roboticshumanoid-robotartificial-musclesfluidic-musclessoft-roboticshydraulic-systemandroid-technologyOctopus-Inspired artificial muscles boost underwater drones efficiency
Researchers at the University of Iowa have developed a novel approach to enhance the efficiency and maneuverability of underwater vehicles by mimicking the octopus's unique muscle structures. Their innovation involves integrating twisted spiral artificial muscles—synthetic coils inspired by octopus papillae muscles—into the wings of a small underwater hydrofoil. These coils, powered by small electric actuators, unspool in flowing water to reduce drag and increase lift, enabling the craft to move more smoothly and with up to 30% more lift and 10% less drag. This bioinspired design allows the vehicle to maintain stability and control even when sharply tilted against currents, addressing common challenges such as high energy consumption and limited maneuverability in underwater robotics. This research, led by Associate Professor Caterina Lamuta and funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, represents the first demonstration of an underwater flow-control device driven by twisted artificial muscles. The technology holds promise for a range of applications, including offshore energy, ocean exploration
robotartificial-musclesunderwater-dronesbioinspired-roboticsenergy-efficiencyactuatorsunderwater-vehiclesLight-powered underwater robots achieve 2x mammalian muscle strength
robotsoft-roboticsartificial-musclesunderwater-roboticslight-responsive-materialsphotochemical-actuatorsazobenzene