NC State researchers uncover muscle mimicking fibers

While some researchers over in Raleigh are having fun tinkering with PlayStation 3 farms and dodging the RIAA, NC State's Drs. Tushar Ghosh and John Muth are occupied building prototypes with fibers they say "resemble human muscle and can exhibit muscle-like capabilities when electrical currents are applied." The duo sees the development as paving the way for "advancements and potential applications in robotics, smart textiles, prosthetics, and biomedicines," as they have reportedly found that polyurethane and silicone tube structures shaped like human muscle strands can be manipulated with electricity. It was noted, however, that the current models are using strands "roughly the size of a pencil lead," but the next step is to scale down the fibers and integrate them into a robotic Mr. and Mrs. Wuf.

[Jason @ Jun 7th 2007 2:02AM]

Imagine what kind of exoskeleton devices could be manufactured if they succeed in creating this?!

Mountain biking would become a whole new experience of you had 5x the strength :-)

Jason
http://offtheirhead.com

[Gil @ Jun 7th 2007 2:46AM]

Exoskeletons already exist: http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/29/hal-5-robotic-suit-ready-for-mass-production/

As for the muscles: I want a working prototype now. The market for these things is infinite

[Steve @ Jun 7th 2007 3:52AM]

Just skimmed the journal article referenced, and it appears electric fields in the order of 100V/um (that is, 100kV/m) were used to produce the actuation. Not the most practical option for portable devices

[Tor I. Pettersen @ Jun 8th 2007 10:53AM]

When it comes to battery power, I don't think we'll have as much to worry about soon.
We're just seeing the start of the nanotech supercapacitor http://www.physorg.com/news11625.html revolution, as well as various takes on fuel cell batteries, for instance http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060913100455.htm

Tor
http://www.gadgetsieve.com

[Shawn @ Jun 7th 2007 4:43AM]

The cylons are coming!!

[Richard_clifford1 @ Jun 7th 2007 5:52AM]

Bird man costumes at the ready

[Scott Briscoe @ Jun 7th 2007 7:34AM]

GO PACK!!

[Justin @ Jun 7th 2007 8:43AM]

Now this is the type of research that I like to see. I don't know who said this, but it was once said that the only difference between science fiction and science is time. With stuff like this being worked on I might actually get to see a world with robot maids, cyborgs, and flying cars in my life time.

[James @ Jun 7th 2007 11:18AM]

Wolfpack iz in ur body, moving ur bonez!

[Naman @ Jun 7th 2007 2:55PM]

Mecha baby, Mecha!!!

[Tor I. Pettersen @ Jun 8th 2007 10:40AM]

I love it.

Imagine the possibilities this might have for disabled users, when they can simply put on an "exoskeleton" muscle layer, possibly directly controlled by the brain ( http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/21/technology/googlebrain0721.biz2/index.htm ) so that it becomes much like walking and moving normally.

And imagine grandma running home from the mall, carrying 5 heavy bags on each arm :>

Tor
http://www.gadgetsieve.com