Super-Strong Soft Robots

Nov-28-17 Researchers have created soft, origami-inspired robotic muscles able to lift 1000 times their own weight.

Developed by teams from the WYSS Institute and MIT, the artificial muscles are made up of an internal framework surrounded by a flexible bag filled with water or air. Applying a vacuum to the bag will trigger the system to close, allowing the soft robot to lift objects more than 1000 times its weight—a feat that surprised the researchers themselves.

“We were very surprised by how strong the actuators […] were. We expected they’d have a higher maximum functional weight than ordinary soft robots, but we didn’t expect a thousand-fold increase. It’s like giving these robots superpowers,” said Daniela Rus, a professor of engineering and computer science at MIT.

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