video: The Keplinger Research Group at the University of Colorado Boulder has developed a new class of soft electrically activated devices, called HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-Healing Electrostatic) actuators, which mimic natural muscle in both performance and versatility. HASEL can perform delicate tasks like grasping small fruit, strenuous activity like lifting a gallon of water, or provide bursts of power to throw a ball. Additionally, HASEL-powered soft robots can self-sense their position, operate at highspeeds, and heal from damage. The versatility of HASEL actuators allows the design of artificial muscles with uncanny abilities such as high optical transparency. This material relates to a paper that appeared in the 5 January 2018, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by E. Acome at University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, and colleagues was titled, "Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators with muscle-like performance." view more
Credit: Footage courtesy of Keplinger Research Group, <i>Science</i>/AAAS and <i>Science Robotics</i>/AAAS; Video produced by Tim Morrissey: https://youtube.com/c/TimMorrissey