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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.

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About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal 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 an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a noted pioneer in the email marketing software industry, having been the first to launch an HTML email newsletter technology that has grown to become a standard in the industry. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, Pilates and organic gardening.


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Related Articles: • The implications of humanoid robots as laborsaving devices are more ominous than most people realize • Microsoft Robotics Studio Provides Common Ground for Robotics Innovation (press release) • U.S. Army tests battlefield robot armed with pump action shotgun; bring on the Terminators!	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/000224_artificial_muscles_robot_NASA.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/000224_artificial_muscles_robot_NASA.html">Breakthrough in artificial muscles promises to revolutionize the robotics industry</a>