Artificial muscle’ takes origami to the next level

Imagine an electrically-powered device as thin as paper, as powerful as human muscle, and capable of lifting 1,000 times its own weight. Researchers from the University of Bristol have done precisely that, creating an artificial 'muscle' that could boost the power of anything from microrobots to space structures. The team of engineers from Bristol Robotics Laboratory and Engineering Mathematics were inspired to create the artificial muscle technology by the ancient art of origami. Their invention uses electrostatic forces, which "zip" structures together like a zipper on a coat. These structures can be made from any combination of insulating and conducting materials, such as metal and plastic and even office paper and pencil. "With electro-origami, we can replace electromagnetic motors with light, scalable, silent alternatives," said Dr Majid Taghavi, one of the inventors of the technology. "Because electrostatic devices do not require high currents, they produce much less heat and can be much more efficient than electric motors." The research, published in Science Robotics , comes from the team who previously found fame with "The Right Trousers" project, in which they developed smart robotic trousers to improve the mobility of older adults and people with disabilities.