Fluidic muscle
From the human muscle to the pneumatic drive
As part of the Bionic Learning Network, Festo has developed a pneumatic muscle that is recreated from a biological muscle. It enables sequences that closely approximate human movements.
The bionic muscles consist mainly of a hollow elastomer cylinder embedded with aramid fibres. When the fluidic muscle fills with air, it increases in diameter and contracts in length, enabling a fluid, elastic movement.
From the bionic research platform to a serial product
In the meantime, the Fluidic Muscle has made it into the Festo product portfolio under the name DMSP/MAS. The fluidic muscle can exert ten times the force of a comparably sized cylinder, is very sturdy, and can even be used under extreme conditions such as in sand or dust.