Robot Muscles Powered by Alcohol
University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Nanotech Institute has made alcohol-powered artificial muscles that are 100 times stronger than natural muscles, able to do 100 times greater work per cycle.
They have developed two different types of artificial muscles that, like natural muscles, convert the chemical energy of an energetic fuel to mechanical energy.
The breakthroughs are described in the March 17 issue of the prestigious journal Science.
The new muscles simultaneously function as fuel cells and muscles, according to to Dr. Ray H. Baughman, an author of the Science article.
Just like humans, the robots will not need to be tied to a power source or carry batteries.
Fuel-powered charge injection in a carbon nanotube electrode produces the dimensional changes needed for actuation.
In another of the described artificial muscles – currently the most powerful type – the chemical energy in the fuel is converted to heat by a catalytic reaction of a mixture of fuel and oxygen in the air.
UTD NanoTech Institute - News
They have developed two different types of artificial muscles that, like natural muscles, convert the chemical energy of an energetic fuel to mechanical energy.
The breakthroughs are described in the March 17 issue of the prestigious journal Science.
The new muscles simultaneously function as fuel cells and muscles, according to to Dr. Ray H. Baughman, an author of the Science article.
Just like humans, the robots will not need to be tied to a power source or carry batteries.
Fuel-powered charge injection in a carbon nanotube electrode produces the dimensional changes needed for actuation.
In another of the described artificial muscles – currently the most powerful type – the chemical energy in the fuel is converted to heat by a catalytic reaction of a mixture of fuel and oxygen in the air.
UTD NanoTech Institute - News
posted by Prospector at
1:25 PM
1 Comments:
Love your blog -- fun, lots of variety, and lots o' robots.
I just started a new blog myself, all about iRobot and its Roomba, Scooba and Packbot.
Check it out if you get a chance: http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com
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