Realizing the potential of dielectric elastomer artificial muscles

Significance To build new robots that can safely interact with people, while completing complex tasks, we need artificial muscles. Ideally, these devices would be completely soft, as strong as natural muscles, and powered by electricity for easy integration with the rest of the robot. We found a materials solution that relies on an established technology, a dielectric elastomer soft capacitor, which deforms when an electric field is applied. By using a unique combination of nanoscale conductive particles and soft elastomers, we can apply high electric fields and reach contraction forces on par with natural muscles. Potential uses include novel surgical tools, prosthetics and artificial limbs, haptic devices, and more capable soft robots for exploration.