In 1967, Dr. Christian Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant. His skillful use of precision scalpels made him a legend in the medical world. Fifty years later, Eddie Hall became the first person in the world to deadlift 1000 pounds. Both examples are human achievements at the limits of the muscle spectrum.But while industrial robots can lift weights well in excess of Hall’s record, they lack the versatility that allows humans to combine strength and dexterity. Stones can now be followed to climb stairs and open doorsWhen The development of artificial skin and artificial muscles have become the latest robotic Frontier.
until now, 2 robot technology It was used to reproduce muscle capacity. On the one hand, there are pneumatic actuators that can generate motion by injecting liquid or air into a soft bag. While this system can generate a significant amount of pressure, it is very bulky, inaccurate and potentially dangerous.
On the other hand, there are actuators based on dielectric elastomers. They apply a voltage to a pair of electrodes, causing the material (elastomer) between them to expand or contract. Elastomers can consist of polyurethanes, acrylates, silicones, or liquid crystals. Each of these materials reacts differently to electricity and has different sensitivities. Although this new system is more flexible, it is less reliable and wears out materials exposed to current.
For more human-like muscles
What if you could create a robot technology Like a human, can you lift something heavy without breaking an egg? That means you can combine the power of pneumatic actuators with the precision and lightness of dielectric elastomer-based technology. That was why when University of Colorado physicist Christoph Koeplinger and his research team developed several prototypes that could complete tasks similar to those performed by human muscles.
Their system utilizes several pouches filled with liquid, such as those found in pneumatic actuators. However, instead of shrinking or expanding by decreasing or increasing the amount of liquid they hold, we chose to apply a voltage similar to dielectric elastomer actuators. As a proof of concept, I was able to successfully lift a raspberry without damaging it. One of the greatest advantages of this technology is its self-healing properties. It prevents wear from constant use by using a liquid instead of a solid elastomer.
Researchers at the University of Colorado called it hazel (hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuator). The manufacturing techniques required to produce it are relatively simple and inexpensive.In other words, if subsequent tests succeed, the next generation robot You can train muscles like humans.
One of HASEL’s most interesting applications is within the realm of human prosthetic limbs such as legs and arms, allowing users to handle fragile objects in the same way they would with natural limbs without damaging them. . It can also be useful in handling delicate foods in industrial processes.
sauce: Science, National Geographic
