Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!upsnews.ups.com!casey!nrd2pnk
From: nrd2pnk@nrd.ups.com (Peter Kacandes)
Subject: Re: Artificial Muscle
Message-ID: <CKwrqr.6KG@nrd.ups.com>
Organization: United Parcel Service
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References: <mboettch-040294102042@fout.nic.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 13:49:38 GMT
Lines: 41

Michael E. Boettcher (mboettch@students.wisc) wrote:
: In article <4FEB94.05292530@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu>, boone@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu
: wrote:
: 
: >      I am looking for devices which perform in a manner similar
: > to muscle:
: > 
: > 1.provides linear pulling force (no pushing force)
: > 2.nearly no mechanical resistance when "off"
: > 3.can store elastic potential energy
: > 4.some integral sensing capability
: > 
: >      Are there any artificial muscle devices like this in use?
: > 
: 
: I sent for some information from Bridgestone (tire company) about their
: "pneumatic muscle."  It is a rubber tube conected to metal ends.  The tube
: is surrounded by a wire mesh.  The tube is inflated, and gets bigger in
: diameter.  Since the wire mesh is also attached to the metal ends, and
: can't change in length, the metal ends are drawn together.  They work in
: opposing pairs.
: 
: They show several applications in the literature.  Unfortunetly, when I
: sent for the info, they had not started production. (1-2 years ago)
: 
: If you're interested, drop a line and I'll dig out the address for you.
: 
: mboettch@students.wisc.edu


When I was an undergrad about 6 years ago we tried using these devices to
build a simple arm. We had a lot of problems. They weren't able to generate
enough force to do anything useful. The response time is also pretty slow.
The control was highly non-linear. Granted, a lot has probably changed since
then. We were probably using research prototypes. Despite all the problems,
they had a very high niff factor, ie. they were pretty cool and people had
fun working with them and watching them.

pnk


