The researchers at IIT Kanpur has developed a bio-inspired artificial muscle that can be used for medical prostheses and next generation space robots. The institute’s Smart Materials, Structures and Systems (SMSS) lab has fostered the bio-inspired artificial muscle, that is all set to facilitate the creation of a new class of Space Robots, making a significant contribution to Indian Space Technology.
There is growing demand in the industry for actuators that are gear-free, light-weight,non-magnetic and miniature. The IIT-Kanpur discovery of shape memory alloy (SMA) based actuators having excellent power-to-weight ratios has emerged as a reliable alternative to the traditionally used actuators. The research has also improved the design space of the actuators by leveraging the architectural features of bipennate muscles, which has improved the muscle force output per unit weight by 70%.
This particular project, carried out with the support of Portescap CRS funding is likely to find a great range of applications, beyond space robots, such as medical prostheses, aviation and other indutries. It is also going to make bio-medical devices such as CT scanners, MRI scanners and surgical robots more effective and affordable. The information has been published as a paper in the Nature Scientific Reports.