New Robotic Muscle System

Researchers are trying to create new robots made of soft materials similar to the human muscle system.
The Keplinger Research Group has developed a robotic muscle system called HASEL, a soft, electrically activated muscle that can simulate the expansion and contraction of biological muscles.
These soft devices, which can be made from low cost materials, are able to control their movements against electrical stimuli and have made great progress for robotics in terms of being self-healing.
The soft devices can perform a variety of tasks, including grasping delicate objects such as a raspberry and a raw egg, as well as lifting heavy objects.
This robotic muscle system, which is cheaper and more efficient than other systems, works with electrostatic and hydraulic principle.

The HASEL actuator consists of a series of rectangular cartridges with a thin and transparent elastomeric structure filled with a liquid dielectric that protects against electrical damage.
This muscle system, filled with electrical insulation fluid and containing a couple of electrodes, while electric current is compressed to recognize objects when applied, when the electric current is interrupted, the concept is released.
This system, which resembles biological muscles, it has more than the working speed of human muscles. This special muscle system, which makes an important development in the field of robotics, an octopus muscle flexibility fly muscle speed and an elephant has access to muscle power.

The Keplinger research group says this muscle system, which is easy to do, can cost about 10 cents. HASEL is a muscle system that can be made with low cost materials and compatible with existing industrial production techniques, but according to researchers, this system needs to be further developed. Because electrostatic actuator technology requires very high energy to operate the muscle system. Research teams are working to solve this problem.

This work is a basic feature for future humanoid robots. Robots with biological muscles reacting to the applied voltage with various movements have a great proposition for future projects as they adapt to dynamic environments and are well suited to interact with people. The artificial intelligence and robot technology we encountered in futuristic science fiction films as a result of these developments is no longer a remote future, and it has become a reality of our lives.