Breakthrough in artificial muscles promises to revolutionize the robotics industry

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How do you a build the musculoskeletal system a humanoid robot? If you're Sony, you use a system of servo motors, gears, metal rods and cables. But that's a poor imitation of the human body where the movement of limbs is dictated by the smooth, coordinated contraction of muscle fibers. Enter the breakthrough: electroactive polymers, also called artificial muscles. Recently unveiled by a scientist in Albuquerque, these artificial muscles contract when exposed to an electric current. Attach one end to the pelvis of a humanoid robot and the other end to the back of its knee and you have a robot that can do leg curls. Strap together enough such fibers, couple them with a smart contact feedback system, and you can teach a robot to walk using its own artificial muscles.

Imagine it: no motors to wear out, no cables to snap, no rods to break: just muscle-like fibers that contract in response to an electric current. It's nothing short of a revolution in robotics. No doubt, the industry will rely heavily on this technology in the years ahead. There's even hope that such fibers might somehow be used in human patients to aid those who have, for one reason or another, lost the use of their limbs.

In a creepy sort of way, these new artificial muscles are now about to be put to the test in an arm wrestling contest with high school students. As part of an upcoming contest hosted by NASA, high school students will go hand-to-hand with an artificial forearm powered by these electroactive polymers. Assuming the robotic arm doesn't rip the limbs off these students (Terminator, anyone?), this P.R. event should serve up some much-needed public interest in robotics.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of energy efficient LED lights that greatly reduce CO2 emissions. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and pursues hobbies such as Pilates, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org


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