A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a new type of artificial muscle that can seamlessly transition from soft and flexible to rigid and strong—much like rubber transforming into steel. When contracting, this innovative muscle can lift many times its own weight, delivering energy output far surpassing that of human muscles.

Led by Professor Hoon Eui Jeong in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, the research team has successfully created a soft artificial muscle capable of dynamically adjusting its stiffness.

The study is published online in Advanced Functional Materials.