High Res TIFF (2.8 MB)

Artificial Muscles Used as a Gripper

These photographs demonstrate the use of artificial muscles, or electroactive polymers (EAPs), lightweight strips of highly flexible plastic that bend and function similarly to human fingers when electrical voltage is applied to them. Dr. Yoseph Bar-Cohen at JPL, and a small team of scientists and engineers are working to turn these strips into grippers and strings which can grab and lift loads, among many other potential uses, and may be a way of simplifying robotic spacecraft tasks.

Further information about Bar-Cohen's research:

http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov