Artificial muscles give 'superpower' to robots

Artificial muscles inspired by the Japanese folding technique of origami could give robots the power to lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. US researchers have crafted a cheap new material that will let the machines carry out smoother, less rigid, and more human-like movements. The advance offers a leap forward in the field of soft robotics, which are fast replacing older generations of automatons. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have crafted cheap, artificial muscles for robots that give them the power to lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. Researchers built dozens of muscles, using metal springs, packing foam or plastic in a range of shapes and sizes.