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NASA's Invention of the Year Award Goes to Synthetic Muscles
coondoggie writes "It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie: technology that can act like muscle and nerves to expand and contract. The invention has been named the NASA Government Invention of the Year for 2007. 'The Macro-Fiber Composite, or MFC, is made up of ceramic fibers and can be attached to a structure to bend it, reduce vibrations and monitor force. By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. MFC technology could also find its way into inflatable space structures can be used for antennas, communication satellites, space station trusses, and solar sail support structures, NASA said.'"
Great, this is one more researcher we'll have to send someone back in time to knock off. The list of people that put forth inventions leading to the machines taking over the earth keeps expanding.
I used to have a good sig...
when we can we start building them? XD
Prosthetics could really benefit from this.
can i fuck anything because of this?
FYI: I don't know what you guys are talking about half the time.
"By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. Likewise, voltage is generated in proportion to the force applied to the MFC material"
That means that you could attach these to trees, swaying skyscrapers, radio towers, etc., and these things would start generating energy just from their natural motion.
You can't send a takedown notice to an already printed newspaper.
Rate of contraction could be an issue.
This material has been around since 1999 - 2000.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=955561&id=10&qs=No%3D10%26Ntt%3Dmfc%26Ntk%3Dall%26Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26Ns%3DArchiveName%7C0%26N%3D0
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=924195&id=8&qs=No%3D10%26Ntt%3Dmfc%26Ntk%3Dall%26Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26Ns%3DArchiveName%7C0%26N%3D0
2004:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=572569&id=3&qs=No%3D0%26Ntt%3Dmfc%26Ntk%3Dall%26Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26N%3D0%26Ns%3DArchiveName%7C0
Aparently they're 'merely' integrating it into materials and structures in new ways of late, but they were putting it on F-16 tailfin mockups 8 years ago.
...'cuz I want my own freakin BattleMech!
Or at least, MechWarrior was the first thing I thought of when I read this story. Not something more practical like artificial limbs. Hmm... I may need to get out more.
Can it be made into a spaceship that can change shape?
"MFC technology could also find its way into inflatable space structures can be used for antennas, communication satellites, space station trusses, and solar sail support structures" Brilliant, so in the event of a power failure, your structure ends up looking like an empty shopping bag. What is really required is a material that relaxes when a voltage is applied. That way during power failure the only issue is not being able to extend a structure and not having to fear the structure turns into Spaghetti.
Totally offtopic... But I would hardly call BSD entirely dead. I just sold a near mint condition BSD OS/386 for 40+ on Ebay. That is 10 year old software...
I don't know about you but when something becomes rare enough it becomes alive in a whole new way.
It would most likely be used were wind turbines are impractical, but a benefit could be gained without too much trouble.
Synthetic muscles remind me of "Maximum Strength."
When I first saw the trailer for Crysis, I thought it was deodorant.
...but just answer me this: Is it possible for species/human to evolve a metallic skeleton ala wolverine?
... who said MFC was dead!
The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
much of the technology portrayed in the Stargate universe. I'm particularly reminded of the Ancient archive that grew out of a well and grabbed Col. O'Neil's head.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
I had the idea of creating synthetic muscles over 25 years ago when pvf2 (polyvinyl fluoride) first came out. It is a piezoelectric plastic that is less fragile than ceramic. And no I didn't patent it since I never got around to it.
Larry C.
This stuff has been around since at least 2002. You can buy it commercially.
Here's a video. This is still a small-movement actuator. Piezoelectric devices are usually good for a maximum strain of about 0.1%, and this stuff gets up to 0.45%. This has minor uses, but it's a long way from being an "artificial muscle", which requires strain values around maybe 20%. This won't replace the hydraulic cylinder any time soon.
There are other materials with more promise for artificial muscles. See Artificial Muscle, Inc., which has a polymer-based material which changes length when electricity is applied. This is being used in auto-focus cameras, and they're working towards valve actuators in appliances, automotive fuel pumps, and similar short-travel applications.
I've been thinking about using this type of material that shrinks, expands, or twists under voltage for robots. Small, precise, and especially cheap robots.
IF (and that's a big if here folks,) the material can be made to repeatedly move in precise quantifiable intervals then it would be a boom for micro robots.
For example, micro surgery. Having a dual joystick-like control that moves a micro knife or cellular glue stick 0.1mm for every centimeter movement of the controller in the doctor or med tech's hand.
Or testing a circuit board with high density Quad Flat Pack ICs with 100+ pins to an inch. A miniature robot-controlled oscilloscope probe that moves from pin to pin under the technician's keyboard control.
Take thin strips of the material and arrange them into cylinders. By placing precise voltages on each of the strips (say 100 strips arranged into one centimeter in diameter), the cylinder becomes a robotic probe with extremely flexible and precise control of movement. Without using motors or servos.
I look forward to more research and development in this field.
What, synthetic rubbish? This is outrageous!
Hello? NASA? Have you even heard of the iPhone?
NASA is totally going to make a fortune if they enter the sex-doll industry with this :)
Between the falling angel and the rising ape