Researchers Develop Mini Robotic Muscles

Researchers at MIT have developed a new breed of small mechanical “muscles” using shape-memory alloys – metals that change shape when heated. The mini-muscle actuators are more efficient and have greater torque for their weight than traditional electric motors. The new design represents an advance over previous spring actuators and are less than a millimeter thick. These mini-muscles could one day find application in devices too small for electric motors, such as minimally invasive surgical instruments.
MIT slideshow: Mini robotic muscles…