HASEL Artificial Muscles Moves And Heals Itself; Next-Gen Soft Robotics

Does robotics define metallic droids? not really, a group of researchers is working to create the next generation of robots called HASEL Artificial Muscles (hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic), that can react to applied voltage with a wide range of motions.

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HASEL Artificial Muscles

The Engineering Center is using a new generation of HASEL actuators or artificial muscles, a technology that is not really new but is showing off exceptional progress. The researchers are trying to imitate muscular functioning consequently by giving way to a new generation of “soft robots”.

These soft robots contain a tremendous potential for the future application, which adapts to dynamic environments and well-suited closely to interact with humans. Notably, the soft robots can perform a variety of tasks, which includes grasping delicate objects (such as raspberry or a raw egg) or lifting heavy objects.

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The Keplinger (research group) developed soft robot are electrically activated devices capable of mimicking the expansion and contraction of natural muscles, which can self-sense their movements and self-heal from electrical damage and the major addition is that it can be built from a wide range of (low-cost) materials.

How Does A HASEL Artificial Muscles Behave? 

The HASEL device consists of an elastomeric shell that can take different shapes inside an electrically insulating liquid connected to a pair of opposed electrodes. So, when a tension is applied, the liquid moves, which apparently changes the shape of the elastomer.

It is worth noting that the change in elastomer’s shape is precisely similar to that of human muscle contraction. And when the tension is eliminated, the elastomer returns to its basic shape. Thanks to the “self-regenerating” aspect of the solution that (resist electrical damage) has resulted in the soft insulating layer, to be able to resume the initial shape even after an electrical damage.

The researchers have already filed and obtained the approval of several patents. However, the future goal is to explore the use of new materials and geometries to broaden the range of use, which might allow practical application in various fields of application. Hop on to the following link to know more.

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