VAMPs (vacuum-actuated muscle-inspired pneumatic structures), Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Cambridge, M

Artificial muscles could make soft robots safer and stronger. Researchers at the Wyss Institute, Harvard SEAS, and MIT CSAIL have developed a novel design approach for origami-inspired artificial muscles, capable of lifting 1000x its own weight.

The muscles are made of a compressible skeleton and air or fluid medium encased in a flexible skin, and are powered by pressure difference. The muscle motions are programmed based on the structural geometry of the skeleton. Multi-directional motions can also be programmed into the material. Artificial muscles can also grip, lift, and twist objects.

A variety of materials and fabrication methods can be used to create low-cost artificial muscles. These artificial muscles are fast, light-weight, and powerful, and could be used for miniature medical devices, deployable structures, or wearable robotics.

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A team of researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has developed fully soft, electrically driven artificial muscles that operate on par with natural muscles. Developing soft, artificial muscles that are also fast and strong is an important step in developing soft robots that can both safely interact with people and complete important tasks.

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