New super-thin robot mimics muscle to crawl, twist, and grab objects

Researchers from Samsung Electronics’ Future Robotics Division and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed an ultra-thin, flexible robotic actuator inspired by human muscle protein myosin. Unlike conventional rigid metal robot parts, this paper-thin actuator incorporates a complex three-dimensional pneumatic network with tiny air chambers and multilayered air pathways. When air is injected, these small forces combine to produce strong, multi-directional movements, enabling the robot to bend, crawl, twist, and handle delicate tasks with precision comparable to human fingers. This bio-inspired actuator’s flexibility and strength allow robots to maneuver through tight spaces and perform delicate operations such as surgery or pipeline cleaning. The technology holds promise for diverse applications including surgical robots, collaborative industrial robots, and exploration devices. The actuator’s ability to move objects underwater and interact delicately with humans suggests future robots could be more responsive and capable in sensitive environments. The research, supported by Korean government agencies, was published in Nature Communications.