Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: barilejb@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (Jason Blue Barile)
Subject: Re: Synthetic Muscles
Message-ID: <1995Mar15.214740.16884@news.vanderbilt.edu>
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Organization: Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, Nashville, TN, USA
References: <3jq61a$msg@newshound.uidaho.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 21:47:40 GMT
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In article <3jq61a$msg@newshound.uidaho.edu> horn931@goshawk.csrv.uidaho.edu (Doctor Horn) writes:
>	Hello there. I have an idea for synthetic muscles. I envision a 
>foam like substance that behaves like a muscle (i.e. contracts with 
>sufficient force in the presence of electrical current. This could be 
>molded into the shape of human muscles therby providing for an 
>anotomically correct hand, arm whatever. These currents could 
>concieveably come from the original nerves (i.e. prosthetic devices). 
>There is already a guy in Ca working on the axon (nerve) to wire 
>connection, All I need is the substance. Any Ideas??
>
>Mike 

I've heard of some work being done in the Netherlands with magneto-rheological
fluids (sp?)  They change their viscosity under a magnetic field.  Perhaps
filling bicep-shaped bag with this substance would be something to look
into.  I'm very sorry that I haven't got any references for you.

-Jason Barile
 Vanderbilt University Intelligent Robotics Lab

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