In the realm of robotics, nature consistently proves to be an enduring source of inspiration. Muscles, in particular, are mind-blowing actuators. By definition, actuators are devices that convert energy into motion, and our natural muscles have been doing this all along, in a rather fantastic manner. Muscles, in their deceivingly small size, are more powerful and accurate than the majority of man-made actuators. They have the uncanny ability to self-repair, and through exercise, they can grow stronger.
Engineers are now trying to tap into this biological power source for robotics. They are testing the potential of 'biohybrid' robots, which employ muscle-based actuators to drive artificial skeletons. These robots are experimenting with walking, swimming, gripping, and even more complex movements. However, a generalized blueprint to extract maximum muscle output for any robotic design is not yet in existence.
A new development from the engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) promises to be a game-changer. They've created a novel device that works like a spring, acting as a basic 'skeleton' module for nearly any muscle-powered robot. This spring, or 'flexure', is specially designed to optimize the work done by any attached muscle tissues. The device conceptually functions like a leg press machine that's been loaded with just the right weight to incentivize maximum muscular movement.
When a ring of muscle tissue is installed onto the device, much like a rubber band being stretched around two pegs, it pulls on the spring, stretching it five times further than previously achieved in other designs. This demonstrates that muscle tissues can reliably operate the spring several times, which is a significant advancement for biohybrid bots.
The flexure design can be likened to a new building block for artificial skeletons, offering numerous configurations for muscle-driven movements. Ritu Raman, the Brit and Alex d'Arbeloff Career Development Professor in Engineering Design at MIT, explicates that the flexure design equips roboticists with a new set of rules to create powerful, precision-driven, muscle-powered robots.
To generate the most predictable, reliable, and focused muscle contractions, the engineers manipulated multiple aspects of the flexure design. They ensured the flexure was soft and flexible in one direction but stiff otherwise. This design enables muscle tissue to contract and optimally stretch the spring, thereby converting the muscle's force into directed motion. By serving as an adaptable 'skeleton', this novel device magnifies muscle contractions.
Flexure-based muscle performance measurements are precise, opening a pathway for exhaustive exercise studies. Additionally, researchers are exploring ways to combine multiple flexures to form intricate, reliable robots driven by organic muscles. Their visions of biohybrid future include minimally invasive surgical robots that operate within the human body.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original sources can be found on ScienceDaily.
