Miniaturized and untethered McKibben muscles based on photothermal-induced gas-liquid transformation

Wenfei Ai, Kai Hou, Jiaxin Wu, Yue Long () and Kai Song ()
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Wenfei Ai: Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
Kai Hou: Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
Jiaxin Wu: Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
Yue Long: Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
Kai Song: Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Pneumatic artificial muscles can move continuously under the power support of air pumps, and their flexibility also provides the possibility for applications in complex environments. However, in order to achieve operation in confined spaces, the miniaturization of artificial muscles becomes crucial. Since external attachment devices greatly hinder the miniaturization and use of artificial muscles, we propose a light-driven approach to get rid of these limitations. In this study, we report a miniaturized fiber-reinforced artificial muscle based on mold editing, capable of bending and axial elongation using gas-liquid conversion in visible light. The minimum volume of the artificial muscle prepared using this method was 15.7 mm3 (d = 2 mm, l = 5 mm), which was smaller than those of other fiber-reinforced pneumatic actuators. This research can promote the development of non-tethered pneumatic actuators for rescue and exploration, and create the possibility of miniaturization of actuators.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45540-4

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