A team of MIT researchers recently created the first synthetic muscle actuator that can flex in multiple directions. This study opens the door for more capable soft robots and other advanced medical breakthroughs. Here’s how the team utilized a new 3D printing method, alongside specially made stamps, to grow synthetic muscles in the lab that can replicate the real thing.
Understanding Muscle Architecture and Movement
To understand why you can’t just make a motor that does what a muscle does, you first need to look at how your body operates. When you move your hand, there is a lot more going on than just your muscles pulling in a single direction. Many multidirectional skeletal muscle fibers form intricate patterns and are mounted at angles to produce the exact motions of the human body.