NASA's Invention of the Year Award Goes to Synthetic Muscles 49
coondoggie writes "It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie: technology that can act like muscle and nerves to expand and contract. The invention has been named the NASA Government Invention of the Year for 2007. 'The Macro-Fiber Composite, or MFC, is made up of ceramic fibers and can be attached to a structure to bend it, reduce vibrations and monitor force. By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. MFC technology could also find its way into inflatable space structures can be used for antennas, communication satellites, space station trusses, and solar sail support structures, NASA said.'"
Yes, old news. Why is NASA hyping this now? (Score:5, Informative)
This stuff has been around since at least 2002. You can buy it commercially. [smart-material.com]
Here's a video. [smart-material.com] This is still a small-movement actuator. Piezoelectric devices are usually good for a maximum strain of about 0.1%, and this stuff gets up to 0.45%. This has minor uses, but it's a long way from being an "artificial muscle", which requires strain values around maybe 20%. This won't replace the hydraulic cylinder any time soon.
There are other materials with more promise for artificial muscles. See Artificial Muscle, Inc. [artificialmuscle.com], which has a polymer-based material which changes length when electricity is applied. This is being used in auto-focus cameras, and they're working towards valve actuators in appliances, automotive fuel pumps, and similar short-travel applications.