In 3D, the artificial muscles in the sci-fi series “Westworld” from HBO (USA) truly astonish viewers. Notably, a recent breakthrough by Chinese scientists could usher in this future technology sooner than expected.
According to research published recently in the National Science Review, scientists from the Institute of Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ocean University of China have developed a new type of artificial muscle based on carbon, a fundamental component of all known living organisms on Earth.
This muscle has reversible deformation capabilities, allowing for rapid and continuous adjustments. (Illustrative image).
Lightweight carbon materials with exceptional strength, electrical conductivity, and outstanding flexibility have shown tremendous potential in the field of artificial muscles. While robots demonstrate significant market potential, artificial muscles truly stand out. They not only mimic natural muscles but also offer unique advantages such as self-healing capabilities, exceptional elasticity, and rapid response times compared to conventional mechanical joints.
In the context of an aging population, artificial muscle technology is becoming increasingly valuable in assistive devices, wearables, and various other medical applications.
Taking inspiration from the proboscis of butterflies, the research team created biomimetic materials using graphdiyne—a carbon allotrope—replacing advanced hydrogen with an asymmetrically structured surface. This muscle has the ability to deform reversibly, quickly, and continuously. This movement is activated by the switching of carbon bonds.
The scientists successfully integrated artificial muscles into robotic arms, enabling the robots to change positions quickly and lift objects weighing up to 11 times their own weight. According to the research, the robots maintain stability and adaptability even at temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius.
Moreover, the size of the graphdiyne membrane can be customized, ranging from about 1 cm down to 100 microns. Miniaturizing the size of artificial muscles is a significant trend, especially in the development of ultra-small medical devices and miniature robots.
Artificial muscles have now been integrated into a real-time monitoring system to observe the bending motion of human fingers. This application allows for real-time simulation and control from larger hands to smaller ones.
The research team stated that this invention shows significant potential for enhancing intelligent robots and advancing precision medicine.
