To bridge this gap and bring artificial muscles closer to practical uses in robotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies, researchers say new materials and manufacturing processes are needed to produce actuators that move naturally.
An important advancement has been made by researchers at Empa’s Laboratory for Functional Polymers, who have created a technique for 3D printing soft actuators.
According to the team, these DEAs are composed of interlocking layers of two silicone-based materials: a conductive electrode and a non-conductive dielectric. When voltage is applied, the actuator contracts like a muscle and relaxes when the voltage is removed.