Science & Technology

Scientists build tiny Terminator-style muscle

By T.K. Randall
December 27, 2013

Image: Terminator in Madame Tussauds, London
Credit: Daniel Jurena / CC BY-SA 2.0 (adapted) In an achievement that could foreshadow the type of superhuman robots seen in movies such as 'The Terminator', scientists have used the transition of vanadium dioxide from an insulator to a conductor to produce a twisting robotic motor that, at the size of a microchip, can throw objects over 50 times its own weight within as little as 60 milliseconds.

"Multiple micro-muscles can be assembled into a micro-robotic system that simulates an active neuromuscular system," said physicist Junqiao Wu. "The naturally combined functions of proximity sensing and torsional motion allow the device to remotely detect a target and respond by reconfiguring itself to a different shape."The impressive micro-muscle was found to be extremely durable, capable of twisting and turning more than 1 million times before degrading while also exhibiting a much wider range of movement abilities than existing motors.

"With its combination of power and multi-functionality, our micro-muscle shows great potential for applications that require a high level of functionality integration in a small space," said Wu.

Source: Raw Story

Tags: Robot, Muscle