Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Invented by Northwestern roboticists, new bioinspired artificial muscles enable robotic limbs to push, lift and kick. The new muscles, or actuators, provide the performance and mechanical properties required for building robotic musculoskeletal systems.
To demonstrate the artificial muscle’s capabilities, the engineers implemented them into a life-size humanoid leg, complete with rigid plastic “bones,” elastic “tendons” and even a sensor that enables the robot to “feel” its movements. The leg used three artificial muscles — a quadricep, hamstring and calf — to bend its knee and ankle joints. The muscles are compliant enough to absorb impacts but still can apply enough strength and motion to kick a volleyball off a pedestal.
Credit: Ryan Truby and Taekyoung Kim
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Invented by Northwestern roboticists, new bioinspired artificial muscles enable robotic limbs to push, lift and kick. The new muscles, or actuators, provide the performance and mechanical properties required for building robotic musculoskeletal systems.
To demonstrate the artificial muscle’s capabilities, the engineers implemented them into a life-size humanoid leg, complete with rigid plastic “bones,” elastic “tendons” and even a sensor that enables the robot to “feel” its movements. The leg used three artificial muscles — a quadricep, hamstring and calf — to bend its knee and ankle joints. The muscles are compliant enough to absorb impacts but still can apply enough strength and motion to kick a volleyball off a pedestal.
Credit: Ryan Truby and Taekyoung Kim
____
▶️ Subscribe: bit.ly/NorthwesternUYTSubscribe
Follow Northwestern on social media:
-Instagram: instagram.com/northwesternu
-TikTok: tiktok.com/@northwestern.u
-Twitter/X: twitter.com/northwesternu
-LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/northwestern-university
-Facebook: facebook.com/northwesternu
Northwestern on the Web:
-Northwestern Homepage: https://northwestern.edu
-Northwestern Now News: https://news.northwestern.edu
-Northwestern Magazine: https://magazine.northwestern.edu
