Materials Science World Congress

The materials at the forefront of developments in soft robotics, prosthetics, and biomedical devices are those mimicked by natural muscles that mimic movement and functionality. The innovative materials can contract, expand, bend, or have some other response to external stimuli like changes in electrical fields, temperature variations, or chemical interactions. It is changing the face of applications of robotics and human-assistive technologies into motion dynamics with better fluidity and flexibility.

The best of the materials for artificial muscles are electroactive polymers (EAPs); under electric field, these change the shape or size. As flexible, EAPs can deliver great force and, therefore, are excellent at soft actuators used in robotic systems. Movement caused in ionic EAPs is due to ion migration, which offers smooth actuation consistent with human muscle contractions. This material is particularly useful in biomedical applications where natural, fluid motion is always important to the quality of life for the user, for example in prosthetic limbs.

Another major raw material for artificial muscles is SMAs, such as nickel-titanium, as found in NiTi. SMAs are different because they recall their previous shape following deformation and return to that shape if exposed to heat. In this aspect, SMAs can produce mechanical motion like natural muscles. In actuators in robotics and aerospace applications, SMAs ensure that the movement is strong and reliable under variable environmental conditions.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene-based actuators are among the emerging nanomaterials that can demonstrate high mechanical and electrical characteristics. Being light in weight, with high tensile strength, and electric or chemical activation with rapid contractions, they gain attention. The carbon nanotube yarns have been studied as wearable technologies and as micro-actuators for medical devices, being scalable.

Another promising material for the development of artificial muscles is soft, water-absorbing polymers, such as hydrogels. Hydrogels change volume according to the response to stimuli, for instance, in terms of temperature or pH changes. As such, they are useful for the development of medical appliances as well as soft robotics that require soft precise movements; these include applications for minimally invasive surgery or tissue engineering.

Artificial muscles from these materials are providing prosthetic limbs that move much more naturally and possess much greater functional control. Importantly, this leads to highly significant advances in prosthetic technology. Soft-robotics-enabled advances open new frontiers into traditional research domains, such as rehabilitation applications involving flexible, wearable robotic devices to help patients achieve recovery and mobility.

Concluding it all, material advances in artificial muscles are changing the face of soft robotics and biomedical devices, pushing innovations in dynamic human-like actuation. Material science further development and the subsequent advancements in artificial muscles play an overarching role in enhancing prosthetics, robots, and medical devices for seamless integration of technology and biology.