Artificial Muscles Developed At CU Could Mean We’re Closer to Building A Bionic Person

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Photo:limb with artificial muscle
The stretchy material highlighted in the yellow box is the HASEL actuator, or "artificial muscle" that moves this robotic arm. The HASEL expands and contracts like a human muscle.

Tim Morrissey and Eric Acome, who helped develop the technology, tell Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner that HASELs have the potential to work faster and stronger than real human muscles. Articles detailing different designs appear in the journals Science and Science Robotics.

Photo:artificial muscle lifts gallon of water
The artificial muscle, or "HASEL actuator" expands and contracts to lift a gallon of water. The same technology can be modified for delicate touch instead of strength, to lift an egg or a raspberry, for example.