Artificial Muscles

Six years ago a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)
issued a unique challenge: build a robotic arm using artificial muscles that
could arm wrestle a human. The results of that challenge were showcased at
the Electroactive Polymer and Devices Conference where three such robotic
arms competed against a 17-year-old high school student. The ultimate goal
would be to win against the strongest human on Earth. 

The three artificial arms and their teams came from around the world.
Researchers from New Mexico and Switzerland built arms made of plastics and
polymers. A group of students from Virginia Tech University also tested their
arm invention made of gel fibers and electrochemical cells. 

Electroactive polymers are simple, lightweight strips of highly flexible
plastic that bend or stretch when put into contact with chemicals or
electricity. They are quiet and shatterproof, and can be used to imitate
human muscle movements. A team of JPL scientists are working to turn these
plastic strips into grippers and strings that can grab and lift loads. They
are also hoping to build a rover with legs fitted with artificial muscles.
The robot would be able to walk on planetary surfaces instead of rolling on
wheels. 

For more information, visit:
http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/eap/EAP-armwrestling.htm