Robots will be of service with muscles, not motors

Purpose – Aims to project how electroactive polymer will replace conventional electromagnetic motor driven solutions for service and industrial robots. Design/methodology/approach – Presents the ability of electro active polymer to provide higher power density for robot actuation over conventional approaches. Laboratory tests by DARPA compared electroactive polymer with conventional electromagnetic methodologies as well as shape memory alloy and piezo solutions. Findings – Tests by DARPA and SRI International showed significant power density advantages for electroactive polymer artificial muscles (EPAM). Robot prototypes and well as early commercial prototypes developed by Artificial Muscle, Inc. in pumps, valves, and actuators prove superior performance over other actuation solutions. Originality/value – Introduces a new low cost, low power consumption, light weight, and silent method for actuation for robots and other motion control devices.