In a study recently published in Advanced Intelligent Systems, researchers at Queen Mary University of London have made significant progress in the field of bionics and the development of a new type of adaptive electric nerve with self-detection. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize soft robotics and medical applications.
Stopping muscle contractions is not only important for improving strength, but also helps to react quickly to biological factors. Drawing inspiration from nature, a team of researchers from Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science has developed an artificial muscle that seamlessly transitions between a soft and hard state while they have a remarkable ability to perceive strength and deformity.
Queen Mary’s teacher and research director Dr. Ketao Zhang describes the importance of flexible technology and energy workers as. “Giving robots, especially those made from flexible materials, the ability to recognize themselves is a critical step towards becoming truly intelligent,” says Dr Zhang.
The state-of-the-art tendons developed by the researchers demonstrate flexibility and elasticity in muscle tissue, making them suitable for insertion into complex soft plastic systems with movements in a variety of geometries. Capable of withstanding more than 200% longitudinal strain, the flexible actuator exhibits exceptional longevity.
By applying different tensions, the artificial muscle can quickly change its strength, achieving a continuous change and a change in stiffness more than 30 times. provide a greater advantage in speed of response than other types of muscles. In addition, this new technology can monitor its deformation through resistance changes, eliminating the need for additional sensor configuration and simplifying the control process and reducing operating costs.
The production process of this neural automation is simple and reliable. Carbon nanotubes are mixed with liquid silicone using ultrasonic diffusion technology and covered with a film material to create a thin film cathode, which also serves as a part of the artificial body. The anode is made directly from a thin wire mesh, and an actuation layer is placed between the cathode and the anode. When the fluid becomes stronger, a fully self-supporting artificial muscle is created.
The potential applications for this flexible, flexible technology are vast, ranging from soft robotics to medical applications. The seamless connection with the human body opens up opportunities to help disabled or sick people perform important daily tasks. By integrating self-aware muscles, the robotic device can be used to monitor the patient’s activities and provide resistance by changing the stiffness level, enabling the restoration of muscle function during rehabilitation training.
Zhang said, “Although there are still challenges to be overcome before these medical robots can be deployed in clinical settings, this research represents a very important step forward in “The face of human-machine interaction,” Dr. Zhang said. “It provides a blueprint for the future of flexible and wearable robots.”
The groundbreaking study by researchers at Queen Mary University of London is a landmark in the field of bionics. With the development of self-sensing electric nerve cells, they opened the door to advances in soft robotics and medical applications.
Source: Queen Mary University of London
