MIT bioengineers have developed artificial muscles capable of contracting in multiple directions, mimicking the complex arrangements of natural muscles like those found in the iris. Led by Professor Ritu Raman, the team successfully engineered a thin sheet of genetically modified skeletal muscle cells that respond to light. This innovation allows for the first skeletal muscle-powered robots that operate multidirectionally. Notably, they utilized a handheld stamp from a 3D printer to pattern the muscle, a process more accessible than traditional fabrication methods, which showcases potential for practical applications in robotics and medicine.
With the iris design, we believe we have demonstrated the first skeletal muscle-powered robot that generates force in more than one direction.
Using a precisely patterned, handheld stamp fabricated with a high-resolution 3D printer, the team showed how to make artificial muscles flex in multiple directions.
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